Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans is expected to return to the Leicester City starting line-up for the Foxes’ Premier League contest with Newcastle United this evening at the King Power Stadium.
The 31-year-old has been back in training this week and available for selection after missing last weekend’s 4-1 victory at Huddersfield Town with a hip injury.
In the Championship, winger Shane Ferguson is available again after completing a three-game suspension as Neil Harris’ side make the difficult trip to Ollie Norwood’s promotion-chasing Sheffield United who currently sit in third spot in the table.
Elsewhere in the division, Paddy McNair, who has not featured for Middlesbrough since 17 February and who last started league game on Boxing Day, will be hoping for some game time as Tony Pulis’ men host Hull City this weekend.
With only five games remaining Jamal Lewis’ dreams of playing Premier League football next season will move closer if leaders Norwich City pick up maximum points at lowly Wigan Athletic on Sunday.
Bolton Wanderers, who have won just three of their last 15 league outings, travel to Derby County, who still have play-off aspirations, in the knowledge they need a victory if they are to keep alive any hopes of avoiding the drop into League One.
Striker Josh Magennis is again likely to lead the line for the Trotters as he seeks to score his first Wanderers goal since his FA Cup hat-trick against Walsall back in January.
Rotherham United striker Kyle Vassell, who returned to first-team duty in the midweek defeat to Aston Villa following groin surgery, will be looking for a first start for the Millers’ in five months as they look to ease their relegation worries with a trip to Stoke City.
In League One, in-form Burton Albion, who have taken 10 points from their last four games, are at Scunthorpe United where Liam Boyce will be hoping to add to the two goals he has scored in his last three outings for Nigel Clough’s side.
Despite having 15 goals to his credit this term, striker Billy Kee has failed to hit the target in any of his last four matches for Accrington Stanley who are currently just two points off the relegation zone. Tomorrow, John Coley’s charges host Walsall, who are just one off the bottom of League One, in what is the proverbial six-pointer at the Crown Stadium.
Oxford United, who have won their last four matches on the spin, are at home to relegation-threatened AFC Wimbledon and former Crues man Gavin Whyte could return to the starting line-up after injury.
The Sunderland duo of Tom Flanagan and Will Grigg should start for the Black Cats as they seek to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to 25 when they entertain Coventry City at the Stadium of Light.
Meanwhile in Scotland, Hearts play Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup with 19-year-old Bobby Burns hoping to retain his place in the team after playing in last week’s derby contest with Hibernian.
It was Burns’ first league start for the Jam Tarts, and boss Craig Levein was impressed by the youngster’s performance at left-back.
“I thought Bobby did well on Saturday,” said Levein. “It was obviously a massive game for him but he gave me enough confidence that I can use him again, for sure.”
Defender Michael Smith should also be in the Hearts squad for tomorrow’s showdown at Hampden Park while ex-Coleraine winger Darren McCauley will also be in the Inverness 18-man panel.
In the other semi-final, Aberdeen’s Niall McGinn faces his former employers Celtic on Sunday afternoon.
