Championship team news

New signing Marvin Emnes is likely to be in contention for his Swansea debut against Championship leaders QPR. The Middlesbrough man, who can play out wide or in attack, signed a one-month loan deal with the Swans on Monday morning and the south Wales outfit are expected to have the relevant paperwork and clearance granted in time for the Liberty Stadium clash. Manager Brendan Rodgers will check on midfielder Mark Gower although he could well miss the encounter having been forced out of Saturday`s 1-0 win at Reading after just 20 minutes with a hamstring injury. David Cotterill - returning alongside fellow key midfielders Scott Sinclair and Darren Pratley - replaced Gower at the Madejski Stadium and is favourite do so again if required. Rodgers will also assess the fitness of Joe Allen and Kemy Agustien. The former failed to recover from a groin problem in time to be considered for the weekend trip to Berkshire while Agustien has recovered from his knee injury but is lacking match fitness.

QPR manager Neil Warnock has lost key midfielder Akos Buzsaky for his side's trip to Swansea. The 28-year-old went off with a knee injury during Saturday's goalless draw with Norwich and is set to have a scan this week. That could pave the way for Alejandro Faurlin, who recently recovered from a hamstring injury, to play, although Mikele Leigertwood is more likely to get the nod having replaced Buzsaky on Saturday. Gavin Mahon could also feature having been handed a one-month contract by Warnock, but Peter Ramage and Lee Cook remain long-term absentees with knee injuries.

Preston boss Darren Ferguson will be without winger Keith Treacy for the home clash with Scunthorpe. Treacy was sent off for a professional foul during Saturday`s thumping 3-0 defeat at Derby and is now suspended. Centre-back Wayne Brown missed the Pride Park reverse with a tight hamstring and could remain sidelined as Sean St Ledger and Craig Morgan continue at the heart of the defence. Midfielder Darel Russell is available again after serving a one-match ban at the weekend following his red card against Reading.

Scunthorpe have completed the loan signing of West Ham striker Freddie Sears and he could make his debut in Tuesday`s clash at Deepdale. The 20-year-old, who had spells on loan at Crystal Palace and Coventry last season, has joined the Iron for a month and will bolster their attacking options. Iron boss Ian Baraclough could again be without midfielder Kevin McDonald. The Burnley man joined the Iron on loan last week but a back injury ruled him out of Saturday`s 3-1 home defeat to Doncaster and is still troubling him. However, winger Garry Thompson made his comeback from a groin injury as a substitute at the weekend and looks set to play some part again. Jim McNulty remains sidelined with an ankle injury but defender Eddie Nolan, on loan at Scunthorpe from Preston, is eligible to face his parent club at Deepdale. The 22-year-old will also be able to take on the Lilywhites at Glanford Park on December 26, with his initial six-month loan set to expire after the home encounter with Watford a week later.

Nottingham Forest have no new problems ahead of the visit of Middlesbrough. The Reds were without Robert Earnshaw and Nathan Tyson as their nine-game unbeaten league run ended a tBarnsley on Saturday. Earnshaw (thigh) was absent for the fourth game in a row while Tyson missed out with a knee injury. Both players are expected to stay on the sidelines. Boss Billy Davies could also be absent again after missing the defeat at Oakwell with a viral infection. Assistant David Kelly will continue in charge should the Scot`s well-being fail to improve. Defender Kelvin Wilson, midfielders Radoslaw Majewski and Paul Anderson and striker David McGoldrick will be hoping for recalls.

Middlesbrough start life after Gordon Strachan with a trip to the City Ground, with Steve Agnew taking care of the side. Strachan's time in control of the club came to an end on Monday, with the Scot walking away without compensation after a succession of failures since taking charge almost a year ago. Ill midfielder Mickael Tavares was able to start the defeat to Leeds on Saturday and although he did not last the 90 minutes, he is expected to make the trip to the City Ground. Midfielder Barry Robson serves the second leg of his three-match ban while Kevin Thomson continues his battle for fitness following his aborted comeback from a fractured fibula. Justin Hoyte is close to returning from a hamstring injury but Jonathan Franks (herniated disc), Willo Flood (knee),Rhys Williams (pelvis) and Matt Kilgallon (back) remain on the casualty list.

Doncaster will be without George Friend and Shelton Martis for the home game with Derby, while another defender, James O'Connor, is doubtful. Friend is waiting for a specialist's report after damaging knee ligaments during the first half of Saturday's win at Scunthorpe and Martis suffered a recurrence of his groin strain after returning to full training last week. Full-back O'Connor is nursing a tight hamstring and with fellow defenders James Chambers and Wayne Thomas (both knee) still sidelined, manager Sean O'Driscoll is running out of options at the back. Centre-half Adam Lockwood is struggling with a swollen toe, but will play, while Sam Hird and Byron Webster are both in contention to fill in for Friend. O'Driscoll's side, chasing back-to-back league wins for the first time this season, could climb back into the top six if results go their way.

Frank Fielding will continue in goal for Derby`s trip to Doncaster after the on-loan keeper kept a clean sheet on his debut against Preston. The England Under-21 international has been drafted in on a month`s loan after first choice stopper Stephen Bywatersuffered a wrist fracture in training. Saul Deeney missed Saturday`s 3-0 home win over Preston on compassionate grounds so Ross Atkins, recalled from his loan spell at Tamworth, could continue as back up to Fielding on the bench. Derby are hopeful Paul Green will return to the squad following a hamstring injury sustained on international duty with the Republic of Ireland last week. The Rams are without an away win since the opening day of the season but head to south Yorkshire on a five-game unbeaten run.

Coventry boss Aidy Boothroyd will hope to have Marlon King back in his ranks for the visit of Cardiff. The striker failed to recover from his thigh injury in time for Saturday`s 2-1 victory at Ipswich but is expected to return to contention against Dave Jones` second-placed Bluebirds. King`s comeback presents Boothroyd with a welcome dilemma having watched Clive Platt and Lukas Jutkiewiczcombine to bag the goals which secured the club`s first victory at Portman Road since 1994, with the Sky Blues boss admitting "it's a nice problem to have". Boothroyd was thrilled with the manner of Coventry`s victory at the weekend and could well be tempted to name an unchanged line-up with no new injury or suspension problems to contend with. However, his remaining list of absentees all continue to miss out including Danny Ward, Freddy Eastwood, David Bell,Chris Hussey, Gary Deegan and Stephen O`Halloran.

Craig Bellamy comes into the fold to face former club Coventry having been rested for Cardiff`s 3-2 win over Bristol City on Saturday. The on-loan striker has only recently returned from his latest spell on the sidelines nursing his long-standing knee problem and manager Dave Jones knows he must used his prized asset sparingly, making three games in the space of 10 days a tall order. Jones` decision to leave Bellamy out of his matchday 18 at the weekend means he is expected to feature at the Ricoh Arena against the club he spent one season with a decade ago. Michael Chopra returned to face Bristol City after his lengthy lay-off recovering from ankle ligament damage, partnering another ex-Sky Blues striker in Jay Bothroyd, and it will be up to Jones to decide who gets the nod on Tuesday night. Stephen McPhail was forced off with a knee injury midway through the second half of the Severnside derby and will have to be assessed, with fellow midfielder Danny Drinkwater (thigh) and defenders Paul Quinn (knee) and Chris Riggott already on the sidelines. Darcy Blake does however return to the fold having served his one-match ban.

Burnley boss Brian Laws is hopeful that defender Danny Fox will shake off a slight thigh strain and be passed fit for the visit of Barnsley. The left-back limped out of the Clarets' 3-3 draw at Sheffield United on Saturday but Laws is optimistic he will be passed fit to face Mark Robins` side. Defender Michael Duff missed the trip to Bramall Lane with a calf strain but he is also expected to be available to feature. Defender Clarke Carlisle is still suspended and a number of Laws` squad are suffering from the effects of a bug. However, Laws hopes it will not prevent them from featuring against the Tykes as his side bid to extend their unbeaten home record.

Barnsley manager Mark Robins is expected to name an unchanged starting line-up as his side chase back-to-back wins for the first time this season at Turf Moor. Robins has no new injury or suspension problems following Saturday's 3-1 home win over Nottingham Forest and is unlikely to tinker with his side. Midfielder Jeronimo Neumann remains the only doubt due to a groin strain, while midfielder Jacob Butterfield gave Robins plenty to ponder after he stepped off the substitutes' bench on Saturday to score the Tykes' third goal. Striker Chris Wood, on loan from West Brom, and Bobby Hassell both started on the bench on Saturday and may have to be patient as Barnsley aim to climb back into the top half of the table.

Cole Skuse is a doubt for Bristol City ahead of the visit of Reading. Skuse was the only absentee from training on Monday after the midfielder limped off in the closing stages of the defeat at Cardiff. The Robins have yet to win at Ashton Gate this season and boss Keith Millen will change their matchday routine on Tuesday in the hope it will bring them that elusive home victory. "We are going to change it slightly, we are going to come and do some training before the game to change our preparations," said Millen.

Reading midfielder Brian Howard is pushing for a recall for the trip to Ashton Gate. Howard returned from suspension for the home defeat to Swansea at the weekend but was an unused substitute and will hope to earn his place back in Brian McDermott`s side. Left-back Chris Armstrong has been playing in the centre of midfield since returning from a knee operation but could stand down. Winger Hal Robson-Kanu was fit to start at the weekend after a knee problem while Icelandic midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson will again miss out through a hamstring injury. Former Coventry midfielder Jay Tabb is also available for selection after recovering from the foot injury which has restricted him to just 151 minutes of first team football for the Royals this season.

Leeds midfielders Amdy Faye and Sanchez Watt and defender George McCartney are all doubtful for the home game with Leicester. Faye and Watt are struggling with ankle knocks and could face late fitness tests, while on-loan Sunderland left-back McCartney lasted just over half an hour of Saturday's win at Middlesbrough before succumbing to illness. Andrew Hughes is likely to continue in place of McCartney if he fails to make it, but Leigh Bromby provides another option, while Max Gradel and Neil Kilkenny, both unused substitutes at the weekend, could step into midfield.

Sven-Goran Eriksson has no new problems as he prepares for his first away game as Leicester boss at Elland Road. The Swede`s reign began with a 1-1 home draw against Hull on Saturday, when he was unable to call on Dany N`Guessan. The forward suffered ankle ligament damage on the recent trip to Thailand and has yet to regain fitness. Kyle Naughton and Curtis Davies made their debuts against Hull and the defenders are likely to keep their places in the side. Eriksson has options should he wish to make changes. Yuki Abe and Franck Moussa, second-half substitutes at the weekend, will hope to have done enough to force their way into the starting line up, while Julio Moreno, Robbie Neilson and Michael Morrison are also pushing for recalls.

Hull's latest loan signing Vito Mannone will go straight in their squad for the home game with Sheffield United. The Arsenal goalkeeper, who will stay with Hull initially until January, is expected to be among the substitutes against the Blades. The 22-year-old arrived at Arsenal from Atalanta in 2005 and has had to be patient at the Emirates Stadium. Tigers manager Nigel Pearson will be without midfielder Jimmy Bullard again as he works his way back to fitness following a knee injury, but defender Paul McShane is expected to be available. McShane was feared to have damaged ankle ligaments when forced out of Saturday's 1-1 draw at Leicester, but x-ray results have given him the all-clear. Summer signing James Harper, still to appear for Hull after breaking a bone in his foot during the summer, is edging closer, but not yet ready for first-team action.

Sheffield United striker Jamie Ward returns to contention at Hull following suspension. The Blades forward was shown a straight red card in last month's defeat at Leeds, but provides Gary Speed with extra options up front. Richard Cresswell partnered Daniel Bogdanovic up front at the weekend, with Ched Evans replacing the latter midway through the first half, and Speed must decide whether or not to split them up. Midfielder Nick Montgomery will miss out should he require an injection in his Achilles, but will otherwise be available and on-loan Manchester United defender Ritchie De Laet is expected to be fit after being forced off late on againstBurnley on Saturday due to a calf strain. The Blades, chasing their first win in five league games, have won only once on the road this season, at Derby in early September.

Millwall manager Kenny Jackett is boosted by having Alan Dunne and Liam Trotter back in the ranks for his side's clash with Portsmouth. The former is returning from a one-match ban having picking up five yellow cards this term, while the latter has missed the last three games through suspension after being sent off against Cardiff. Both should make an immediate return to the starting line-up with Scott Barron, who impressed as a makeshift right-back in Saturday's 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, and Tamika Mkandawire likely to make way. Theo Robinson went off with cramp after netting the winner against the Eagles, but is fit and should retain his place in the XI, while Shaun Batt (knee) remains a long-term absentee.

Manager Steve Cotterill will be without midfielder Aaron Mokoena for Portsmouth's trip to the New Den. The 29-year-old picked up his fifth yellow card of the season during Saturday's dramatic 3-2 victory over Watford and, subsequently, has been handed a one-match ban. John Utaka missed the match against the Hornets through a slight hamstring problem and is rated as 50-50 for the clash with the Lions. Hermann Hreidarsson, who has yet to feature this season, could return to the fold as he continues his rehabilitation from the Achilles injury he picked up against Tottenham last season. Striker Danny Webber is another month away from returning, while youngsters Tom Kilbey (knee) and Billy Goddard (shin) are still on the sidelines.

Watford will be missing winger Don Cowie for the visit of Roy Keane's Ipswich side to Vicarage Road. Cowie lasted just 23 minutes of the 3-2 defeat at Portsmouth at the weekend before coming off with a knee injury and the Scot is set for a spell out of the side. He was replaced by Stephen McGinn at Fratton Park and he is in the driving seat to start after scoring, although Michael Bryan also impressed after coming on and is another option for manager Malky Mackay. Midfielder Ross Jenkins missed the trip south with an ankle injury which could sideline him again while reserve goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin is fit again after a minor thigh injury.

Jack Colback is in line for his second Ipswich debut when Roy Keane`s side make the trip to Vicarage Road. Colback was on loan from Sunderland last season - scoring at Vicarage Road - and could be back in the side again after rejoining late last week. Fellow loanee, Celtic defender Darren O'Dea, is absent after he had knee surgery on a problem that has dogged him since September. He now faces six weeks on the sidelines. However Shane O'Connor (hamstring), Damien Delaney and Luciano Civelli (both knee) are all back in contention after using the international break to get back to full fitness. Keane could make changes following the disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Coventry on Saturday, with David Norris, Connor Wickham and Tamas Priskin all hoping to return.

Norwich will be without defender Elliott Ward for the visit of Crystal Palace. Ward collected his fifth booking of the season during Saturday`s goalless draw at leaders QPR and will miss out through a one-game suspension. Left-back Adam Drury is also a doubt after he limped off against Neil Warnock`s men with a calf strain so former Rangers man Steven Smith is in line to start. Dane Jens Berthel Askou is in contention to start in the centre of defence in place of Ward as Zak Whitbread and Michael Nelson (both ankle) remain sidelined. Midfielder Andrew Surman remains a casualty with a knee injury while forward Wes Hoolahan will continue despite missing a crucial penalty at Loftus Road. The Canaries remain in third place and a win over Palace could move them level on points with second-placed Cardiff.

Manager George Burley will be without defender Claude Davis for Crystal Palace's trip to Carrow Road. The 31-year-old was sent off for the second time this season during Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Millwall and, subsequently, has been handed a four-match suspension. However, his loss is slightly offset by on-loan Everton striker James Vaughan's return from suspension. The 22-year-old, who has missed the The Eagles' last three games after receiving a red card against Derby, looks set to be restored to the starting line-up. Darren Ambrose (leg), David Wright (calf)and Neil Danns (knee) will again be sidelined, as well as Lee Hills and winger Sean Scannell (both knee). Palace are currently second bottom in the npower Championship and will be hoping to move out of the relegation zone with a win against the Canaries.