England and Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer could be play his first league game this season against Bolton Wanderers as Faustino Asprilla leaves St James's Park.

Shearer was injured in a pre-season friendly and his presence could be the tonic Newcastle desperately need to stop their slide down the Premiership.

The striker had hoped to make the FA Cup tie against Stevenage his comeback match but with Asprilla moving to Parma, Shearer is expected to play a part on Saturday.

Kenny Dalglsih confirmed that Shearer may play

Manager Kenny Dalglish said: "Alan is being considered but that is not to say he will be involved."

Meanwhile, Dalglish says a fee has been agreed for the Colombian international and the player is undergoing an extensive medical.

In form Liverpool, who are unbeaten in five league matches, travel to Leicester, who have not won at home in the league since October.

And Leicester manager Martin O'Neill has doubts about the fitness of leading scorer Ian Marshall.

Title-chasing Blackburn Rovers entertain Aston Villa, who won an FA Cup replay in the week to set up a fourth round match against fierce local rivals West Bromwich Albion.

But the game against Portsmouth had a price - central defender Riccardo Scimeca and midfielder Mark Draper are both unlikely to be fit to play Blackburn.

In a London derby, West Ham take on Tottenham Hotspur. The game is almost a role reversal of a typical season with West Ham flying high and Spurs battling against relegation.

Arsenal travel to Coventry City as they try to get their title challenge back on course and Leeds United take on Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

Crystal Palace travel to bottom-of-the-table Barnsley in a relegation dogfight and Wimbledon entertain Derby.

Top meets bottom on Sunday when Everton play Chelsea. On Monday Liverpool meet Newcastle.
 

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©