Chelsea could be the chief beneficiary of Manchester United and Arsenal's injury setbacks during Champions League action this week.

Carlo Ancelotti's side travels to Old Trafford on Saturday in buoyant mood, having knocked in 12 goals in its past two matches and knowing it will not have to contend with United's 34-goal linchpin Wayne Rooney.

Old Trafford was relieved to learn that scans on Thursday showed the striker had sustained only minor ankle ligament damage in the Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich on Tuesday, though the club declined to say when he might return.

Chelsea, which has no European distractions following its elimination by Internazionale last month, will welcome back its own 30-goal top scorer Didier Drogba, who missed the 7-1 romp past Aston Villa last week with a knee injury.

The Blues trail United by a point, so would regain the title lead if they can defeat Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

Third-placed Arsenal has the seemingly easier fixture, hosting Wolves, but has a longer casualty list.

Devastatingly for the Gunners, leading scorer and playmaker Cesc Fabregas is out for the remainder of the Premier League season after scans on Thursday confirmed a cracked right fibula.

Arsenal said the 22-year-old midfielder would miss at least six weeks after sustaining the injury just prior to helping his side claw back a share of the spoils from the penalty spot against Barcelona at the Emirates on Wednesday night.

Andrey Arshavin and William Gallas will also be missing after sustaining calf injuries in the Barca match.

Arshavin said on Thursday he expected to be out of action for two or three weeks, which could also rule him out of the April 14 the north London derby against Spurs.

Mick McCarthy's Wolves side will be no pushover for Arsene Wenger's men, having gone on a four-match unbeaten run that has included two away wins to ease its relegation worries.

In other English Premier League matches on Saturday, Sunderland hosts Tottenham, still clinging determinedly to fourth spot and aiming for a sixth straight victory; Manchester City travels across Lancashire to Burnley; Bolton entertains Villa; Blackburn makes the long trek to doomed Portsmouth; and Hull faces Stoke. On Sunday, Birmingham hosts Liverpool Everton welcomes West Ham and Wigan plays at Fulham.