West Brom will hope their Nigerian strikers pack their scoring boots, and there are a few dicey relegation situations involving Nigerian players across Europe

ENGLAND
Newcastle travel to Leicester on Saturday in the knowledge that another loss would see them inch closer to the relegation places at the bottom of the table. The Magpies have lost seven games on the bounce, making them the league’s worst team on form, while Leicester were spunky in their midweek loss to Chelsea. Sammy Ameobi will hope to pitch in to some degree at least to stave off the threat of relegation.


QPR are swiftly running out of games in which to save themselves from the drop, and their next stop is Anfield. They face a Liverpool side desperate to hold on to fifth, and though the Reds have not been an awesome attacking force this year, on their day they are well capable of causing a backline containing Nedum Onuoha plenty of problems.
West Brom should face a perilous trip to Old Trafford. The Baggies are seven points clear of the relegation zone, but are still to travel to Arsenal and face champions-in-waiting Chelsea, so could do with a result here. They will however need their pair of Nigerian strikers to get firing – Victor Anichebe has been preferred in recent weeks to record-signing Brown Ideye, but neither is in particularly sparkling form at the moment.

Stoke were boosted last week by the return of Peter Odemwingie to action after eight months on the sidelines. He should start on the bench yet again against Swansea at the Liberty Stadium; both teams are safe in midtable and have little to play for the rest of the season.
Chelsea will seal the league title with three games to spare with a win over Crystal Palace on Sunday. John Obi Mikel is fit and available for selection, and after a bit-part role in recent weeks, perhaps if Chelsea wrap up the league, he might be considered to start in the home stretch. Shola Ameobi is also available for the Eagles, and will also feature from the bench.
Hull City were deserved winners over Liverpool last time out, and will need a similarly resolute display to see off second-place Arsenal on Monday. Sone Aluko was excellent for the Tigers playing off striker Dame N’Doye, and will start once again at the KC Stadium.

SPAIN
Villarreal are without a win in eight, and are barely hanging on to sixth because both Malaga and Athletic Bilbao are in such poor form themselves. They are away at relegation-threatened Deportivo at the weekend, who are even worse off: without a win in 12. Worryingly for Marcelino’s men, they have also not scored in three games, an Ikechukwu Uche goal could be just what is needed to get the Yellow Submarine firing again.
Granada fired manager Abel Resino this week, what this means for Isaac Success is anyone’s guess. The youngster was enjoying a decent run in recent weeks under the former Atletico Madrid boss, and could be axed for the trip to Getafe on Sunday. This upheaval comes at the worst possible time for Granada, second-from-bottom and with the worst defence in the league.
Almeria on the other hand host Celta – the only team outside the top six with a positive goal difference – in their own battle for survival. They will be grateful for the return from suspension of striker Thievy Bifouma, and also have the talents of Ramon Azeez available for selection. With four games to play, Almeria are two points clear of the relegation places.

FRANCE
Lille’s last game left Super Eagles captain Vincent Enyeama with a bloody nose. PSG put six past Les Dogues in a dominant display, but Rene Girard’s men will hope to piece together the tatters of their defence when they travel to Lens. On paper, the trip holds no fears – Lens are bottom and almost certainly relegated – but Lille will know there can be no room for complacency.
Monaco can keep ahead of the chasing pack in third when they host Toulouse on Sunday. Les Monegasques have prospered this season on the back of the league’s most frugal defence; credit to Elderson Echiejile and all the others who have locked it down. A win here would take them a step closer to Champions League football next season.


GERMANY
FC Koln have a date at Augsburg this weekend. Both teams have won just one of their last six games in the Bundesliga, and though thee Billy Goats are seven points removed from the relegation zone, they will be wary of going into a full-on tailspin with four games to play. Top scorer Anthony Ujah will once again lead the line for Koln.

ITALY
Lazio are five games from Champions League qualification: one point above city rivals Roma. Their test this week comes away at Atalanta, who will be a sterner proposition than Parma were in midweek. Ogenyi Onazi was not named in Wednesday’s matchday squad, having played last weekend, but will hope to make a return to contention this weekend.
Joel Obi’s Inter host Chievo on Sunday at San Siro. The Nerazzurri are in good from at the moment - unbeaten in five games, three of those wins – and a win could take them as high as fifth on the table, if other results go their way.