Premier League, EFL & Euro weekend briefing: Team news, injuries & suspensions

Everton expected to hand new players debuts against Watford

Marco Silva needs to work out how he will bed in Everton's catalogue of new signings this summer and may be forced to introduce one player to the starting lineup sooner than expected.

Morgan Schneiderlin's red card in the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace last weekend means Jean-Philippe Gbamin could be handed a start in holding midfield alongside Andre Gomes.

Moise Kean came on from the bench at Selhurst Park but is expected to earn his first start along with Alex Iwobi, who was a late signing from Arsenal on deadline day.

Neil Warnock's Cardiff City dealing with lengthy list of absentees

Cardiff City snatched three points in their first home match of the Sky Bet Championship season against Cardiff but are missing a handful of key players for the weekend trip to Reading.

They lost goalkeeper Neil Etheridge to a grade-three hamstring tear in the opener with Wigan and the shot-stopper is not expected back until October.

Sol Bamba, Jazz Richards and Matt Connolly are among the other absentees, while Lee Tomlin is struggling to work his way into the side despite his bid to slim down over the summer.

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing did not make the squad to play Luton and the date of his return to action is also unknown.

Sunderland looking light for heavyweight clash with Portsmouth

Sunderland have started their pursuit of the Sky Bet League One title with successive stalemates and their chances against Portsmouth are dented by a string of first-team casualties.

Glenn Loovens, Ethan Robson and Duncan Watmore are all in the medical room and will miss the match but Jack Ross can at least call on duo Denver Hume and Dylan McGeouch. They are expected to return after missing the EFL Cup victory over Accrington Stanley.

Pompey are missing summer signing Ryan Williams but have fellow signing John Marquis available for the long trip up to the Stadium of Light.

Ipswich Town enhanced by return of key players in Luton Town defeat

Ipswich were knocked out of the League Cup by Luton on Tuesday but there were positives to be taken from the game for manager Paul Lambert.

Last season's top goalscorer Gwion Edwards was handed a starting spot in the team for the cup match after returning from a groin injury, while Jon Nolan was on the bench after recovering from a calf concern.

There was also a start for forward Jordan Roberts, who made a late appearance from the bench in the draw with Sunderland, and Emyr Huws made his first competitive start since the final day of the 2016-17 campaign.

New signing to miss Borussia Dortmund's first encounter

Borussia Dortmund are expected to hand Bundesliga starts to summer acquisitions Nico Schulz and Thorgan Hazard but a groin concern casts doubt over the involvement of Julian Brandt in their opener with Augsburg.

The midfielder was signed from Bayer Leverkusen this summer but may have to wait for his chance to don the famous black and yellow jersey in the league.

Raphael Guerreiro is ruled out of the match with a muscular problem while Augsburg will have to do without Jeffrey Gouweleeuw and Sergio Cordova (both groin) among others.

Freiburg and Mainz blighted by injuries for Bundesliga opener

Freiburg are preparing for their final season at the Schwarzwald-Stadion and they look likely to start the campaign short of first-team players.

Attacking players Marco Terrazzino and Janik Haberer are sidelined along with new additions Chang-Hoon Kwon and Gian-Luca Itter. Consequently there could be a debut for young South Korean forward Woo-yeong Jeong.

Mainz have just one injury to attend to but it is key talismanic striker Jean-Philippe Mateta who misses out. He is crucial to their chances this term, with a 2018-19 tally of 14 league goals, four of which were scored against Freiburg.

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