Injuries plague Newcastle ahead of opener

There are doubts over a key quartet of players, with strikers Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba and midfielders Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa all needing fitness assessments, but defender Fabricio Coloccini should be fit to play, despite suffering a knock in last weekend's friendly defeat to Cardiff City.

Fellow centre-back Steven Taylor and midfielder Sylvain Marveaux are both back in the squad after long-term injury lay-offs, while new recruits Vurnon Anita, Curtis Good, Gael Bigirimana and Romain Amalfitano are available to make their debuts.

Meanwhile Spurs playmaker Luka Modric is expected to be left out of his side's squad for Andre Villas-Boas' first match in charge.

The Croatia international, who is close to sealing a transfer to Real Madrid, has not played all summer after refusing to go on the club's pre-season tour of the United States and Tottenham will most likely not risk him getting injured.

Jan Vertonghen and Gylfi Sigurdsson are likely to make their debuts, but Scott Parker is out with an Achilles problem.

Liverpool's new signings Fabio Borini and Joe Allen could both be given a debut in the side's season opener against West Bromwich Albion.

Borini is pushing for a start having impressed in pre-season since arriving from Roma last month, although midfielder Allen may have to settle for a place on the bench having only joined from Swansea City a week ago.

Midfielder Joe Cole has recovered from a hamstring injury sustained in Liverpool's UEFA Europa League qualifier against FC Gomel in Belarus earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Norwich City is hopeful midfielders Wes Hoolahan and Anthony Pilkington will be in the squad for the club's opener away at Fulham.

Off-season signings Steven Whittaker and Jacob Butterfield will miss out, but Robert Snodgrass and Michael Turner should feature.

Javier Garrido is awaiting international clearance on his season loan from Lazio, so may not be available.

Midfielder David Fox and defender Elliott Ward continue their rehabilitation.

West Ham United is set to make its return to the Premier League against Aston Villa without Jack Collison.

Collison played a key part in Hammers' promotion via the play-offs but aggravated an existing knee injury in the process, which has seen him miss pre-season.

But fellow Wales international James Collins is fit to play against his former club, after a groin injury, while manager Sam Allardyce revealed his signings from overseas, Alou Diarra and Modibo Maiga, will not start.