This article is part of our Fit or Miss series.
The Premier League schedule gets a little less-regular after this gameweek, as matches this weekend will be quickly followed by one match on Tuesday and nine on Wednesday before yet another full slate the following weekend (and Monday). Players who are close to fitness may be held out for these upcoming fixtures but could then turn around and play only days later. The condensed schedule also means that if players suffer slight injuries this Saturday or Sunday, they could miss two additional gameweeks that occur within five-to-six days.
And for those of you reading in the States, Happy Thanksgiving!
Aston Villa vs. Sunderland
Out:Gary Gardner (back) has not resumed full training yet. Jores Okore (knee) will likely miss the rest of the season. Charles N'Zogbia (calf) remains without a timetable for return.
Not Expected to Play:Joseph Bennett (back) is likely another week away.
Expected to Play:Antonio Luna could be fit to return following a hamstring injury.
Everton vs. Stoke City
Out:Leighton Baines is expected to miss at least six weeks after fracturing his toe in last weekend's Merseyside derby. Arouna Kone (knee) could miss the entire season. Darron Gibson (knee) also remains out for the long-term.
Not Expected to Play:Kenwyne Jones is battling a shoulder injury sustained while on international duty. Marc Wilson picked up a thigh injury while playing for the Republic of Ireland.
Expected to Play:Stephen Ireland could return from his ankle injury.
Norwich City vs. Crystal Palace
Out:Marouane Chamakh suffered a concussion during last week's match against Hull City and it's unclear when he'll be able to return. Jerome Thomas (ankle) is getting close to a return but he isn't there yet. Jack Hunt (ankle) is likely two-to-three weeks away from a return. Glenn Murray (knee) is still not slated to return until at least January. Anthony Pilkington is out until January due to a hamstring injury suffered during last weekend's match against Newcastle. Robert Snodgrass is out for several weeks after suffering a knee injury against Newcastle. Mark Bunn had ankle surgery and is likely to be fit again in January. Alexander Tettey could be out until February with an ankle injury. Ricky van Wolfswinkel is also battling an ankle injury, although he could return in December. Elliott Bennett (knee) is looking at a return in March.
Expected to Play:Patrick McCarthy looks ready to return from his groin injury.
West Ham vs. Fulham
Out:Winston Reid (ankle) is out until at least January. Ricardo Vaz Te does not have a return date from a dislocated shoulder suffered at the end of October. Andy Carroll (foot) is expected to start running after a return to London next week but a return to the pitch is still months away. Alou Diarra (knee) remains out for the long-term. Hugo Rodallega (groin) remains a few weeks away from returning. Matthew Briggs (hernia) is expected to return in mid-December.
Not Expected to Play:Razvan Rat missed last weekend's match against Chelsea with a hamstring injury he suffered while playing for Romania during the international break. Mladen Petric remains sidelined with a calf injury. Damien Duff is working through a groin injury. Brede Hangeland does not have a clear timetable for a return due to a sciatic nerve issue in his leg.
Cardiff City vs. Arsenal
Out:Yaya Sanogo (back) is expected to return sometime in January. Lukas Podolski (hamstring) has returned to training but is likely another week or two away from returning. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) had a slight setback and now isn't expected to return until January. Abou Diaby (knee) isn't expected to return until at least March.
Not Expected to Play:Kieran Gibbs was held out of Tuesday's Champions League match against Marseille. Ryo Miyaichi is sidelined with a hamstring injury. Rudy Gestede will likely miss out with a knee injury. Keiren Westwood played over the international break but a neck injury could keep him from being available off the bench, with Vito Mannone staying in goal.
Newcastle vs. West Brom
Out:Zoltan Gera (knee) and George Thorne (knee) still do not have specific return dates. Ryan Taylor remains sidelined with his knee injury.
Not Expected to Play:Liam Ridgewell is battling with a calf injury that forced him out of last Monday's Premier League match against Aston Villa. Ben Foster (ankle) is expected to return the first week of December.
Expected to Play:Billy Jones could return from his hamstring injury. Scott Sinclair (hamstring) also appears ready to return. Paul Dummett and Steven Taylor look set to return from their hamstring injuries.
Tottenham vs. Manchester United
Out:Michael Carrick remains out with an Achilles injury. Darren Fletcher (illness) remains out while he builds up match fitness following his prolonged absence. Christian Eriksen (ankle) is still weeks away from a return. Danny Rose (ankle) is targeting a mid-December return.
Not Expected to Play:Emmanuel Adebayor will not play in Thursday's Europa League match against Tromso after picking up a groin strain.
Expected to Play:Robin van Persie did not play last weekend against Cardiff and was held out of Wednesday's Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen with a groin injury but he's expected to return by this weekend. Nemanja Vidic has not featured since suffering a concussion against Arsenal on November 10 but he appears to be ready to return.
Hull City vs. Liverpool
Out:Paul McShane suffered a hamstring injury in the Crystal Palace match and could be out for several weeks. Stephen Quinn is also out for several weeks with a hamstring injury, although he sustained his while on international duty. Sone Aluko (Achilles) is expected back sometime in January. Jose Enrique underwent knee surgery this week that will keep him out until at least February. Sebastian Coates (knee) is out for the long-term.
Not Expected to Play:Robbie Brady (sports hernia) was able to feature in last weekend's match against Crystal Palace but had to be subbed off at halftime. Iago Aspas (thigh) is likely another week away from returning.
Expected to Play:James Chester (hamstring) could be in contention for a return.
Manchester City vs. Swansea City
Out:Garry Monk (knee) is trying to return before year-end. Michu (ankle) is likely at least another week away from a return. Friday update Matija Nastasic has been ruled out for three weeks with a calf injury.
Not Expected to Play:Jack Rodwell (hamstring), David Silva (calf) and Stevan Jovetic (calf) all missed Wednesday's Champions League match against Viktoria Plzen and are not expected to return by this weekend, although they could be available by next midweek. Friday update: Rodwell has been declared fit to play.Wayne Routledge (calf) has done some light training this week but isn't expected to play in Thursday's Europa League match against Valencia.
Expected to Play:Vincent Kompany (thigh) was held out of Wednesday's match but is expected to be fit against Swansea. Friday update: Kompany has been declared fit but will be held out of Sunday's match in order to be 100 percent for Wednesday's road match at West Brom.Pablo has trained this week and could make his return after more than two months on the sidelines with a thigh injury.
Chelsea vs. Southampton
Out:Luke Shaw remains out with a hip injury. Kelvin Davis has picked up a knock, although he wasn't likely to play anyway. Guly do Prado (knee) could return in January. Marco van Ginkel (knee) is still months away from a return.
Not Expected to Play:Jack Cork remains sidelined with an ankle injury. David Luiz suffered a bruised patella that kept him out of Tuesday's Champions League match against FC Basel. Samuel Eto'o suffered a muscle strain in his leg during Tuesday's match and had to be stretchered off.
Expected to Play:Dejan Lovren missed last week's match against Arsenal with an illness but is expected back this weekend.
