Injuries mount for Chelsea

* Chelsea face mounting injury problems and are sweating over the fitness of captain John Terry (back), goalkeeper Petr Cech (thigh) and left back Ashley Cole (hamstring) ahead of Saturday's early match at Middlesbrough.

The trio, ever-present so far this season, sat out midweek World Cup qualifiers and join Didier Drogba, Deco, Ricardo Carvalho and Michael Essien on the leaders injury list.

* Former Chelsea defender Robert Huth faces a further month on the sidelines for Middlesbrough after sustaining ankle ligament damage during training earlier this month.

* Liverpool, level on points with Chelsea at the top of the table, also suffered during the international break with Spain striker Fernando Torres and Dutch winger Ryan Babel returning injured.

Top scorer Torres (hamstring) is likely to miss the next three games, including Saturday's home match against Wigan Athletic, while Babel is a shorter-term doubt after spraining his ankle against Norway on Wednesday.

* Arsenal have defenders William Gallas and Bacary Sagna and striker Nicklas Bendtner out with injuries for Saturday's home match against Everton.

Gallas (hamstring), Sagna (knee) and Bendtner (ankle), injured while on World Cup qualifying duty, will probably miss Tuesday's Champions League visit to Fenerbahce.

Cesc Fabregas suffered a broken nose playing for Spain in their qualifier in Belgium on Wednesday but is expected to be fit.

* Champions Manchester United expect to welcome England midfielders Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves back from injury for Saturday's home match against West Bromwich Albion.

Carrick has been struggling with an ankle problem suffered in last month's loss at Liverpool while Hargreaves has been consistently troubled by a tendinitis injury and has started just one league game this season.

* Newcastle United striker Michael Owen will miss Monday's home game against Manchester City and is a major doubt for next week's derby at Sunderland after suffering a groin injury in training.

* Manchester City striker Robinho is expected to be fit for the trip to Newcastle despite limping out of Brazil's 0-0 draw with Colombia on Wednesday after hurting his thigh.