Fantasy managers must keep an eye on the upcoming spring international window as they make important choices for the final few months of the top-flight season.

One strong budget suggestion could be Bournemouth’s Danish midfielder Philip Billing, who is enjoying his most productive Premier League season with six goals and one assist, and his form over the last month is fifth among midfielders (5.8 points per match).

Friday

Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United (5pm)

Nottingham Forest continue to struggle on the road, suffering their ninth defeat in 13 away league games at Tottenham last weekend. Dean Henderson, Scott McKenna, Giulian Biancone, Willy Boly, Omar Richards, and Taiwo Awoniyi are out with various injuries, Chris Wood is ineligible to face his parent club due to league loan rules, while Cheikhou Kouyate and Brennan Johnson are doubtful.

Newcastle edged Wolves to remain four points behind the top four with two games in hand. Joelinton is suspended thanks to yellow-card accumulation, Emil Krafth is out with a knee injury, while Harrison Ashby and Anthony Gordon are doubtful with hamstring and ankle injuriesd.

The Magpies are unbeaten against Forest in nine Premier League meetings, winning six of those.

Prediction: 2-2

Saturday

Aston Villa v Bournemouth (noon)

Aston Villa got a draw from their visit to West Ham to maintain their solid mid-table position. Philippe Coutinho and Boubacar Kamara are out with hamstring and ankle injuries, while Leander Dendoncker is doubtful with a hand injury.

Bournemouth pulled off an unexpected home win over Liverpool last time but remain in the bottom three on goal difference. Hamed Traore is out with a muscle injury, while Junior Stanislas, Marcus Tavernier, Adam Smith and Illya Zabarnyi are doubtful.

The Cherries have won four of their five encounters with Aston Villa.

Prediction: 2-0

Brentford v Leicester City (noon)

Brentford were beaten at Everton last week but bounced back with an away win at Southampton on Wednesday. Thomas Strakosha and Keane Lewis-Potter are out with ankle and knee injuries for the Bees this weekend.

Leicester suffered their fourth straight defeat and are now only above the relegation zone on goal difference. Wout Faes is suspended after receiving a second yellow card in their latest loss to Chelsea. James Justin, Victor Kristiansen, Youri Tielemans and Sammy Braybrooke are out, while Ryan Bertrand is doubtful through lack of fitness.

The Foxes are unbeaten against Brentford in three league encounters.

Prediction: 2-0

Southampton v Tottenham Hotspur (noon)

Southampton failed to make the most of Casemiro’s first-half red card when getting a goalless draw at Manchester United last week. Tino Livramento and Juan Larios Lopez remain out this weekend for the Saints.

Tottenham defeated Nottingham Forest to maintain their spot in the final champions League qualifying place. Hugo Lloris, Ryan Sessegnon, Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma remain out for the North London side, while Emerson Royal is doubtful with a minor knock for the short trip to St Mary’s.

Spurs have dominated this contest, winning 25 of their 47 overall league meetings, taking a win and a draw from their last two visits to Saints.

Prediction: 0-2

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leeds United (noon)

Wolves were narrowly beaten at Newcastle but remain three points clear of the relegation places. This week, Hugo Bueno, Francisco Oliveira, Sasa Kalajdzic and Diego Costa are out with various injuries, while Boubacar Traore and Pablo Sarabia are doubtful.

Leeds twice came from behind to record a home draw with in-form Brighton last weekend. Stuart Dallas and Adam Forshaw are out with leg and hip injuries, while Liam Cooper is doubtful with a muscle injury.

This is an even rivalry, with each side winning three of their seven top-flight encounters.

Prediction: 1-2

Chelsea v Everton (2.30pm)

Chelsea cruised past Leicester to keep their slim European hopes alive for next term. Edouard Mendy, Cesar Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva and Armando Broja are out this week for the Blues, while Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Reece James, Wesley Fofana and N’Golo Kante are doubtful.

Everton bravely held on to an early lead, given to them inside one minute by winger Dwight McNeil, to edge Brentford and move up to 15th in the standings. Andros Townsend is out owing to lack of fitness, while Nathan Patterson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are doubtful for the same reason.

Chelsea hold the upper hand with 28 wins to Everton’s 13 in this match-up, although the clubs have drawn 20 of their 61 league meetings.

Prediction: 2-1

Sunday

Arsenal v Crystal Palace (11am)

Arsenal smashed Fulham at Craven Cottage to maintain their supremacy in the title race by five points. Mohamed Elneny is out with a knee injury this week for the Gunners, whereas Eddie Nketiah is doubtful with a minor knock.

Crystal Palace are now winless in ten league games after the home defeat to Manchester City. Sam Johnstone is out with a calf injury, Albert Sambi Lokonga is ineligible to face his parent club as a result of league loan rules, while Nathan Ferguson, James McArthur and Will Hughes are doubtful.

Arsenal dominate this rivalry, winning 15 of their 27 league encounters, although Palace have picked up draws in their last two visits to the Emirates.

Prediction: 2-1