FA Cup Weekend Preview

The FA Cup action begins in earnest. Get your lowdown of the previews for the fixtures being played this weekend.

Arsenal v Plymouth

Arsenal will be without defender Kolo Toure (groin) and midfielder Denilson (back) while Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is set to make a rare start as manager Arsene Wenger looks set to include some of his fringe players, such as Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey.

However, striker Eduardo remains in recovery following a broken leg, while captain Cesc Fabregas (knee), Theo Walcott (shoulder), and Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) are also sidelined.

Plymouth manager Paul Sturrock could hand a debut to new signing David Gray after he arrived on loan from Manchester United and will vie with Mat Doumbe for the right-back berth.

Winger Craig Noone has shrugged off the virus while skipper Karl Duguid is set to be recalled but transfer-listed midfielder Simon Walton misses out through suspension.

Birmingham v Wolverhampton

Keith Fahey could make his Birmingham debut if he is given international clearance after his move from St Patrick's Athletic but David Murphy will miss out as he serves a one-match suspension following his dismissal against Swansea.

Blues singer Gary McSheffrey (knee) and striker Garry O'Connor (groin) remain on the sidelines while Sebastian Larsson (groin) is doubtful.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is boosted by the return of winger Michael Kightly from suspension so Kevin Foley will drop back into defence.

David Edwards (hamstring) is doubtful while Matt Murray and defender George Elokobi (both knee) are both out with long-term injuries.

Cardiff v Reading

Cardiff striker Ross McCormack could make a timely return from a hamstring injury as manager Dave Jones ponders his attacking options after Michael Chopra returned to parent club Sunderland earlier this week.

Midfielder Peter Whittingham will hope to start the encounter having come off the bench in the last two games after his return from an ankle problem but Wayne Routledge is unavailable due to the terms of his loan from Aston Villa.

Reading captain Graeme Murty is set to make his first appearance of the season following his recovery from an ankle injury sustained in pre-season as Royals boss Steve Coppell plans several changes after a gruelling festive period.

Defender Alex Pearce has been recalled from his loan spell at Southampton and could feature while striker Leroy Lita is back from a spell at Norwich.

Charlton v Norwich

Charlton manager Phil Parkinson is boosted by the inclusion of on-loan Fulham winger Hameur Bouazza after he was given permission to play while Darren Ambrose is also in the squad after returning from his loan spell with Ipswich.

However, Parkinson will be without Derby defender Jay McEveley and Sunderland striker Martyn Waghorn after they were refused clearance to play by their respective parent clubs.

Norwich manager Glenn Roeder has been boosted by the availability of striker Antoine Sibierksi after Wigan sanctioned his availability and will start after Reading forward Leroy Lita returned to the Royals following the conclusion of his loan spell.

Centre-half John Kennedy is back at Celtic after a knee injury cut short his loan spell and Dejan Stefanovic is out for the season after a knee operation.

Chelsea v Southend

Chelsea are likely to be without defender Alex and winger Florent Malouda after both players collected hamstring injuries in the 2-2 draw with Fulham at

Craven Cottage and are very doubtful.

Michael Essien is still out with a knee ligament problem but Ricardo Carvalho is fit again following an eight-week spell out of action with knee and hamstring injuries while Michael Ballack and captain John Terry are suspended.

Southend manager Steve Tilson hopes to have striker Francis Laurent available as he bids to recover from illness although Lee Barnard could take his place in the starting XI after starting on the bench against the Dons with Alex Revell also pressing for a place.

Jean Francois-Christophe is available after securing a permanent transfer from Portsmouth following a successful loan spell. The midfielder has not figured in the Shrimpers first team since late November after suffering a hamstring injury but is fit enough to return to the side.

Cheltenham v Doncaster

Cheltenham captain John Finnigan is doubtful due to a leg injury sustained in the Boxing Day draw against Yeovil while centre-back Drissa Diallo and striker Damian Spencer are out having sustained medial knee ligament damage.

Lloyd Owusu should start after Barry Hayles has returned to parent club Leicester while Josh Low is cup-tied having featured earlier in the competition for Forest Green.

Doncaster manager Sean O'Driscoll is likely to name an unchanged team which means Adam Lockwood will sit on the bench despite recovering from a facial injury while Paul Heffernan will continue to lead the line for Rovers after scoring three goals in his last four games.

Midfielder James Coppinger will keep his place in the side after returning from an ankle injury to play all 90 minutes in the 2-1 win over Burnley.

Coventry v Kidderminster

Dan Fox and Jay Tabb have been ill this week while Elliott Ward is still struggling with a knee injury so Coventry manager Chris Coleman will promote several youth team players to the squad.

Michael Mifsud has a bruised foot following Sunday's defeat of Sheffield Wednesday and Guillaume Beuzelin must serve a one-match suspension after he received his fifth yellow card of the season against Swansea on Boxing Day.

Kidderminster manager Mark Yates' side are at full strength and he could recall forward Stefan Moore to the starting line-up in order to give his side some experience.

However, he will have to battle with Matthew Barnes-Homer, Justin Richards, David McDermott and Chris Beardsley for a place in the Harriers attack.

Forest Green v Derby

Forest Green's Alex Lawless should retain his place after marking his return to full fitness from a back injury while fellow midfielder Les Afful is pressing for a recall.

Nine-goal top-scorer Andrew Mangan will start alongside Adriano Rigoglioso after both found the net against Barrow with defender John Hardiker the only long-term absentee with a knee injury.

Jordan Stewart is suspended for Derby as he begins a three-match ban following his red card in the 1-0 home defeat to Ipswich while Nathan Ellington could also miss out after he limped out of the match with a hamstring injury.

Caretaker manager Chris Hutchings is without suspended striker Liam Dickinson who has returned from his loan spell at Blackpool but Nacer Barazite has extended his loan spell from Arsenal and is now eligible to play in County's cup games.

Hartlepool v Stoke

Michael Mackay is expected to start for Hartlepool after fellow forward Kevin Kyle`s loan deal expired leaving Pools short on attacking options.

Caretaker manager Chris Turner could ring the changes for the tie after the dire second-half display against Crewe, which was the second defeat of a dismal festive period for the Pools.

Tony Pulis will make wholesale changes to Stoke's side with Ricardo Fuller and Richard Cresswell both banned while Andy Griffin (knee), Mamady Sidibe (knee), Amdy Faye (back), Salif Diao (calf), Leon Cort (groin) and Dave Kitson (knee) on the injury list.

Liam Lawrence is expected to play for the first time for three months after an ankle injury while Michael Tonge, Tom Soares, Andrew Davies, Vincent Pericard, Steve Simonsen and Carl Dickinson are set for rare starts.

Histon v Swansea

Histon boss Steve Fallon has bolstered his defensive ranks with new signings Adam Bygrave and Marlon Patterson after Gareth Gwillim was ruled out for up to two months with a knee injury and Craig Pope recovers from a bout of illness.

Striker Jack Midson must serve a one-match suspension after collecting his fifth yellow card of the season against Cambridge but defender Matt Mitchel-King comes back into the reckoning after completing a three-match ban.

Swansea boss Roberto Martinez will give full-back Federico Bessone (hamstring) a late fitness test while midfielder Andrea Orlandi will continue his comeback from a thigh injury and is likely to start on the bench.

Striker Jason Scotland may return to the starting line-up in place of midfielder Mark Gower after coming off the bench for the final half-hour of the 0-0 draw at Birmingham.

Hull v Newcastle

Hull forward Craig Fagan is set to make his first start in almost four months after recovering from a broken leg sustained in September but Andy Dawson (Achilles), Anthony Gardner (thigh) and Caleb Folan (knee) are still out.

Tigers manager Phil Brown is set to make a number of changes with Nathan Doyle, Stelios Giannakopoulos and Nicky Featherstone in contention.

Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given will be in the starting line-up after manager Joe Kinnear insisted he will not be sold while defender Sebastien Bassong is back after he completed his one-match suspension.

The Magpies have doubts over Nicky Butt and Jose Enrique while Claudio Cacapa and Joey Barton (both knee), Obafemi Martins, Mark Viduka (groin), Shola Ameobi (hamstring), Alan Smith (foot) and Ignacio Gonzalez (Achilles) are all out.

Ipswich v Chesterfield

Ipswich manager Jim Magilton will have defender Alex Bruce back in his squad after he completed a four-match suspension with Ivan Campo set to make way at the heart of defence.

Winger Danny Haynes twisted an ankle against Birmingham on Boxing Day and is a doubt while Darren Ambrose has gone back to Charlton after the end of his loan spell but David Wright is expected to feature after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Alan Goodall is available again after suspension for Chesterfield having completed a four-match ban for the red card he received against Macclesfield on December 12.

However, striker Jack Lester remains unavailable as he serves the final game of his three-match suspension while captain Robert Page continues to struggle with a calf problem and fellow defender Dan Gray also remains a doubt with an ankle injury.

Kettering v Eastwood Town

Kettering manager Mark Cooper will have winger Richard Graham available after he signed him on loan from Dagenham.

Striker Mark Rawle has been released after failing to earn a permanent deal and fellow forward Nathan Smith (foot) remains a long-term absentee.

Captain Anton Foster is Eastwood's only absentee after the combative midfielder picked up his fifth booking of the season against Nantwich and serves a one-match ban so Russell Cooke, Craig Swinscoe and Richard Cooper will hope to take his place.

Boss Paul Cox must also decide whether to opt for on-loan Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Shane Redmond or reward Ian Deakin for his recent impressive displays in the Eastwood goal.

Leicester v Crystal Palace

Leicester could be without top scorer Matty Fryatt who has spent the week nursing the ankle injury that forced him off at half-time in the 2-1 home win over Hereford so Paul Dickov could face his former club.

Aleksandar Tunchev missed the Hereford game with a groin strain and the Bulgaria international remains a doubt so Michael Morrison could keep his place at the heart of the Foxes defence.

Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock is boosted by the return of left-back Clint Hill after he completed a one-match suspension while centre-back Paddy McCarthy could return from a shoulder problem.

If McCarthy is fit enough to return one of Matt Lawrence and Danny Butterfield are likely to drop to the bench but influential midfielder Ben Watson is still out as he continues to recover from a hamstring problem.

Leyton Orient v Sheff Utd

Leyton Orient boss Martin Ling will be without Sean Thornton as he serves a one-match suspension while Adam Boyd is struggling with a virus.

Orient will still be without striker Wayne Gray who is a long-term absentee with a knee injury so the goalscoring responsibilities will fall to on-loan Tottenham striker Simon Dawkins.

Darius Henderson is expected to return to Sheffield United's squad after he missed the last three matches through suspension after being sent off in the recent draw at Swansea.

Manager Kevin Blackwell must decide whether to include the striker in his starting line-up or stick with James Beattie and Danny Webber, who started in the 3-1 win over Charlton last weekend, while Ian Bennett will continue in goal following injury to the transfer-listed Paddy Kenny.

Macclesfield v Everton

Macclesfield welcome back striker Francis Green from a three-match suspension although manager Keith Alexander is contemplating which formation to use after successfully using a five-man defence in their 3-1 victory over Chester.

James Jennings will be hoping to retain his place after helping to shore up the defence while fellow defender Richard Walker also impressed after being handed a starting berth against Chester.

Everton manager David Moyes could ask Tim Cahill to continue his stint up front due to an injury crisis which has worsened with the news that Louis Saha will be out for another month with a hamstring complaint.

One specialist striker, Victor Anichebe, may be available after playing 13 minutes as a substitute against Sunderland but Moyes is likely to allow him more time to rest.

Man City v Nottm Forest

Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland is doubtful because of a hamstring problem.

Nedum Onuoha has already been ruled out of the third round tie because of a similar injury. Robinho, however, is expected to shrug off a thigh strain in time for the game.

Nottingham Forest defender Julian Bennett misses out with a cruciate knee ligament injury he picked up in the Boxing Day defeat to Doncaster.

Fellow defender Joel Lynch is a doubt with a hamstring injury although he will be available for selection until the end of the season after Brighton agreed to extend his loan at the City Ground while Kelvin Wilson has a virus and will be assessed closer to kick-off.

Middlesbrough v Barrow

Brad Jones is poised to replace Middlesbrough first-choice goalkeeper Ross Turnbull while Dutch winger Marvin Emnes is on the verge of making only his second start since signing from Sparta Rotterdam in the summer.

Matthew Bates' fine comeback display at right-back against Manchester United on Monday could earn him a second start of the season while both Mido (groin) and Adam Johnson (hamstring) are doubtful.

Barrow are set to hand a debut to on-loan striker Wayne Curtis after he re-joined his hometown club on a one-month loan from Morecambe and was passed fit after a rib injury.

Joint managers Dave Bayliss and Darren Sheridan are also boosted by the news goalkeeper Alan Martin has extended his loan from Leeds and is available while Matt Henney returns from a back problem.

Millwall v Crewe

Millwall manager Kenny Jackett is boosted by the return of Lewis Grabban from suspension and he will go straight back into the side at the expense of Chris Hackett but Tony Craig who serves the second game of a three-match ban.

Andy Frampton will hope to be involved after he missed the last two matches with concussion but midfielder Danny Spiller remains on the sidelines with a hip problem and defensive pair Marcus Bignot and Danny Senda are definite absentees as they continue their rehabilitation from knee injuries.

New Crewe boss Gudjon Thordarson hopes to have defenders Billy Jones (groin) and Julien Baudet (knee) available while midfielder James Bailey is recovering from a bout of food poisoning which ruled him out of the festive period.

Danny Woodards, is closing in on a return after an ankle injury and strikers Calvin Zola (head) and Tom Pope (hamstring) could also come back into the reckoning but midfielders Kenny Lunt (hernia) and Steven Schumacher (ankle) are out.

Portsmouth v Bristol City

Holders Portsmouth are without striker Jermain Defoe who missed training today with a virus so manager Tony Adams will start with Peter Crouch up front on his own and David Nugent on the right-hand side of a five-man midfield.

Defender Martin Cranie has returned from his four-month loan spell at Charlton and will make his first start for Pompey since August 2007 while club doctors are still to determine the severity of Papa Bouba Diop's knee problem.

Bristol City boss Gary Johnson has a full compliment of strikers to choose from now that Dele Adebola has recovered from a dead leg.

Nicky Maynard and on-loan Southampton striker Stern John have been Johnson's preferred partnership for the last six matches but Adebola will be hoping to have staked his claim for a recall.

Preston v Liverpool

Preston manager Alan Irvine has been boosted by the availability of Ross Wallace after the on-loan Sunderland winger was given permission to feature in the competition by his parent club while Eddie Nolan is also in the squad after his loan move from Blackburn was made permanent.

Irvine has a selection dilemma in attack with former Reds striker Neil Mellor vying for a place with Jon Parkin, Chris Brown and Stephen Elliott, who were all involved over the festive period.

Liverpool midfielder Steve Gerrard has been confirmed as a definite starter despite recent controversy surrounding the Anfield skipper while Fernando Torres, back from a hamstring injury, will also be involved at some stage.

Boss Rafael Benitez also has Fabio Aurelio, Martin Skrtel and Alvaro Arbeloa back in the squad following their recovery from long-term injuries.

QPR v Burnley

QPR manager Paulo Sousa is set to miss striker Rowan Vine and midfielder Akos Buzsaky who are both long-term injury absentees although he will tinker with his starting line-up having used 18 players in the drawn games against Watford and Charlton over the festive period.

Buzsaky's cruciate ligament injury means he is unlikely to feature again for the rest of the season but there was been some encouraging news with Vine who is set resume training following a successful second operation on a broken leg.

Burnley manager Owen Coyle is set to shuffle his defensive pack as prepares without duo Stephen Jordan and Steven Caldwell who miss out through suspension.

The Clarets suffered no new injury worries in their loss at lowly Doncaster and but Coyle may opt to make further changes after the defeat with midfielder Joey Gudjonsson and striker Steven Thompson pushing for starts.

Sheff Wed v Fulham

Sheffield Wednesday manager Brian Laws has on-loan Stoke defender Lewis Buxton available after he was given permission to play by his parent club but Chelsea midfielder Jimmy Smith, on loan since August, will not be included so as not to be cup-tied ahead of his return to Stamford Bridge next week.

Wade Small (eye), Francis Jeffers (groin) and Steve Watson (hip) all came through unscathed against Coventry last weekend after returning from injury while youngsters Rocky Lekaj, Nathan Modest and Luke Boden are all expected to retain their places in the squad.

Fulham midfielder Jimmy Bullard has been ruled out through illness.

Cottagers manager Roy Hodgson is likely to rotate his squad following a busy Christmas period but Zoltan Gera (calf), Andranik Teymourian (knee) and Diomansy Kamara (knee) remain sidelined.

Sunderland v Bolton

Sunderland striker Michael Chopra is facing a race against time to be fit as he bids to recover from an ankle problem following his return from a loan spell with Cardiff but Craig Gordon (ankle) and George McCartney (foot) are still short of fitness despite returning to training.

Anton Ferdinand and Andy Reid, who missed the 3-0 defeat at Everton through illness, should be available, while defender Danny Collins has recovered from a facial injury suffered at Goodison Park.

Bolton will be without suspended midfielder Gavin McCann while full-back Nicky Hunt could come into contention for a place in the side after

being recalled from a loan spell at Birmingham.

Gary Cahill remains doubtful for this third round match after a rib and hip injury forced him to miss the defeat by Wigan.

Torquay v Blackpool

Torquay are waiting on the fitness of winger Mustapha Carayol as he battles to overcome a groin injury although forward Roscoe Dsane has recovered from flu to take his place in the squad.

United are also boosted by signing talismanic keeper Scott Bevan on a full-time basis after his successful loan spell from promotion chasing League Two side Shrewsbury and he will keep his place, having been on the losing side just twice in 19 appearances for the Gulls.

Blackpool are short of numbers after six on-loan players left the club and Gary Taylor-Fletcher is absent through suspension.

Striker Liam Dickinson has been recalled by Derby, while midfielders Lee Hendrie (Sheffield United) and Adam Hammill (Liverpool), striker Steve Kabba (Watford), defender Zesh Rehman (QPR) and goalkeeper Graham Stack (Plymouth) have all also returned to their parent clubs.

Watford v Scunthorpe

Watford manager Brendan Rodgers will hand a debut to Arsenal defender Gavin Hoyte after he joined on loan until the end of the season while midfielder Liam Bridcutt is also available after extending his loan from Chelsea until the end of January.

Tamas Priskin returned from a back injury to start up front at QPR last weekend and should continue, meaning Grzegorz Rasiak will again be on the bench while captain Jay DeMerit has returned from a groin injury.

Striker Ben May is a doubt for Scunthorpe with a groin strain and will undergo a late fitness test while defender Krystian Pearce will also be assessed after picking up a knock in the defeat to Huddersfield on Sunday.

Midfielder Sam Togwell is also a doubt after missing training during the week through illness and could be replaced in the side by Garry Thompson who is fit after overcoming a foot injury but Kevan Hurst and Kenny Milne remain sidelined with hernia and knee injuries respectively.

West Brom v Peterborough

West Brom could hand a debut to on-loan Arsenal striker Jay Simpson after he joined the Baggies for the remainder of the season and has been given permission to feature.

Defender Paul Robinson will return after serving a one-match suspension against Tottenham for incurring five bookings, but Gianni Zuiverloon (knee), James Morrison (groin) and Robert Koren (flu) are doubts.

Peterborough defender Gabriel Zakuani will return to the starting line-up having completed a permanent transfer from Fulham and will partner Craig Morgan at the back.

On-loan Gillingham midfielder Andrew Crofts is cup-tied and with seven substitutes to be named, youth team players Sam Gaughran and Lewis Webb could be involved. Posh boss Darren Ferguson's only long-term absentees are Jamie Day (back) and Shane Blackett (shoulder).

West Ham v Barnsley

Kieron Dyer is set to feature in the West Ham squad for the first time since breaking his leg 17 months ago.

Manager Gianfranco Zola is set to rotate his squad and James Tomkins is also likely to be involved after returning from a loan spell at Derby.

Dennis Souza is expected to return to Barnsley's starting line-up alongside Darren Moore, with Stephen Foster switching to full-back after fellow defender Rob Kozluk was ruled out for a month with a fractured cheekbone.

Tykes manager Simon Davey must also decide whether to recall midfielder Hugo Colace to the side but winger Martin Devaney is still out with an ankle injury.

Gillingham v Aston Villa

Gillingham have a defensive crisis with Barry Fuller and Garry Richards both suspended while on-loan Tottenham defender Leigh Mills has returned to his parent club to leave manager Mark Stimson with just two senior defenders available.

Midfielder Mark Bentley - who sat out the 1-1 draw with Wycombe on Sunday due to a one-match ban - is likely to deputise at the heart of defence while Stuart Lewis is set to continue at right-back with Nicky Southall is cup-tied.

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is set to field his strongest available side although skipper Martin Laursen (knee) will again be absent along with Carlos Cuellar (hamstring) and John Carew (back).

Gareth Barry, Ashley Young and Stiliyan Petrov are all one yellow card away from suspension and a booking at the Priestfield Stadium would rule them out of the derby with West Brom.

Southampton v Man Utd

Southampton manager Jan Poortvliet has been boosted by the news that French midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin should be fit to play after showing no reaction to a recent hamstring problem in training.

Former Everton left-back Lee Molyneux goes straight into the squad after he signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the club but Michael Svensson (Achilles) and Wayne Thomas (knee) are still out.

Rio Ferdinand will be missing for Manchester United after suffering from back spasms and the Red Devils' medical staff are now working towards the 30-year-old being fit for the title clash with Chelsea at Old Trafford on January 11.

Carlos Tevez is also absent having been given time off to visit his family in Argentina while Patrice Evra is suspended.

Blyth Spartans v Blackburn

Blyth Spartans boss Harry Dunn is hoping to hand defender Alex White his debut following his move from Scottish side Stranraer if the paperwork is completed before the tie while Chris McCabe and Alex Gildea (both hamstring) and winger Andrew Wright (rib) are doubtful.

Striker Robert Dale is back from a one-match suspension and hero of the last round, Ged Dalton, is battling to recover from a shin injury.

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce is without defenders Andre Ooijer and Ryan Nelsen who are both missing through suspension which will pave the way for the return from injury of Vince Grella.

Midfielder David Dunn and in-demand striker Roque Santa Cruz are still sidelined with hamstring and calf injuries respectively while Johann Vogel is among those likely to be given a chance to prove themselves under the new manager.

(source espnstar.com)