FA Cup third round team news
Top scorers (all competitions): Theo Robinson (Derby) 9; Jake Cassidy (Tranmere) 11
Match odds: H 3-4 A 19-5 D 13-5
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)
Fulham v Blackpool
Mladen Petric, Damien Duff and Mahamadou Diarra are still injured so will be unable to feature for Fulham. Mark Schwarzer is also sidelined due to a neck problem, while Stephen Kelly (knee) and John Arne Riise (shin) are also missing.
All eyes will be on whether Blackpool’s England Under-21 winger Tom Ince and Seasiders captain Alex Baptiste feature. The pair are reportedly the subject of January transfer interest from Liverpool and Leicester respectively and would become cup-tied for any potential future employers if selected. Nouha Dicko and Wes Thomas returned to Wigan and Bournemouth from their respective loan spells while centre-back Ian Evatt (knee) and winger Matt Phillips (toe) remain on the sidelines. Tom Barkhuizen and Barry Ferguson have returned from loan spells at Fleetwood but are unlikely to feature.
Top scorers (all competitions): Dimitar Berbatov (Fulham) 7; Tom Ince (Blackpool) 13
Match odds: H 7-10 A 4-1 D 13-5
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
Hull v Leyton Orient
Hull right-back Ahmed Elmohamady (calf) is unlikely to return after also missing Tuesday’s goalless draw at Blackpool. Tigers manager Steve Bruce may be tempted to rest striker Sone Aluko and midfielder Robert Koren after the pair were withdrawn due to fatigue at Bloomfield Road. Strikers Jay Simpson and Nick Proschwitz are in contention to start following their second-half appearances and defender Alex Bruce is pushing for a recall. Defender Paul McShane, plus midfielders Tom Cairney and Seyi Olofinjana provide Bruce with plenty of options.
Leyton Orient will check on top scorer Kevin Lisbie (shoulder). Stoke loanee Ryan Brunt started in Lisbie’s absence in the defeat at Yeovil and is eligible to feature again. Jamie Jones is set to continue in goal with Ryan Allsop, who has been first choice all season, looking likely to leave the club this month.
Top scorers (all competitions): Sone Aluko (Hull) 8; Kevin Lisbie (Leyton Orient) 9
Match Odds: H 4-9 A 7-1 D 3-1
Referee: Iain Williamson (Berkshire)
Leeds v Birmingham
Aidy White is back from suspension for Leeds but they will be without winger Jerome Thomas, whose loan spell from West Brom has ended. Centre-back Alan Tate has extended his spell and Swansea have permitted him to play. Eighteen-goal striker Luciano Becchio has shown no adverse reaction after returning from a thigh strain, and Davide Somma — from a long-term knee injury — is available.
Robert Hall has been denied permission to feature for Birmingham by parent club West Ham, while an injury crisis has resulted in young strikers Eddy Gnahore, Reece Hales and Marcel Henry-Francis all being called up. Marlon King (knee), Peter Lovenkrands (calf) and Akwasi Asante (hamstring) are all missing along with Nikola Zigic (suspended). Midfielders Papa Bouba Diop (hamstring), Darren Ambrose (knee) and Hayden Mullins are also absent, with Jonathan Spector a doubt. Defenders Paul Caddis (hamstring), David Murphy and Stephen Carr (both knee) again miss out. Defender Will Packwood (illness) is fit and Blues are hopeful midfielder Callum Reilly may shrug off a foot problem in time.
Top scorers (all competitions): Luciano Becchio (Leeds) 17; Marlon King (Birmingham) 13
Match odds: H 11-10 A 5-2 D 23-10
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)
Leicester v Burton
Leicester winger Ben Marshall is nursing a knock following a strong tackle during the 6-1 league win over Huddersfield on New Year’s Day. Defender Zak Whitbread (calf) and striker Jamie Vardy (heel) have been sidelined in recent weeks and will continue to be monitored. On-loan forward Jesse Lingard has returned to Manchester United but fellow Old Trafford youngster Michael Keane could extend his stay.
Burton could be without defender Anthony O’Connor (hamstring). Nathan Stanton, who missed the trip to York through suspension, is likely to deputise at right-back if O’Connor misses out — assuming skipper Zander Diamond recovers from a sickness bug.
Top scorers (all competitions): Chris Wood (Leicester) 14; Calvin Zola (Burton) 11
Match odds: H 1-4 A 11-1 D 9-2
Referee: Andy D’Urso (Essex)
Luton v Wolves
Defender Simon Ainge and winger Scott Neilson, who both played in Luton’s 3-1 Blue Square Bet Premier defeat at Woking, are cup-tied. Jonathan Smith is likely to fill in for Neilson having scored the late consolation as a substitute in that game. JJ O’Donnell provides further options in the middle while Lathaniel Rowe-Turner is expected to deputise for Ainge.
Wolves winger Bakary Sako was forced off with a hamstring complaint after an hour of the 3-1 New Year’s Day defeat at Crystal Palace while fellow midfielders Tongo Doumbia (hamstring) and Bjorn Sigurdarson (thigh) missed the game altogether, with the latter in with a slight chance of being fit to face Luton. Winger Slawomir Peszko (knee) is close to making his return after three months out and may make his return to the matchday squad. Razak Boukari, Dave Edwards, Steven Mouyokolo, Wayne Hennessey, Stephen Hunt and George Elokobi remain absent.
Top scorers (all competitions): Scott Rendell (Luton) 11; Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Wolves) 10
Match odds: H 13-5 A 11-10 D 9-4
Referee: Geoff Eltringham (Tyne & Wear)
Macclesfield v Cardiff
Ryan Jackson begins a three-match ban for Macclesfield following his straight red card in the New Year’s Day draw with Southport, with Pablo Mills most likely to replace him. Striker Matthew Barnes-Homer, who scored a late double on Tuesday, was withdrawn in the final minutes of the match and is a major doubt ahead of the trip to Wales. Fellow forwards Amari Morgan-Smith and Peter Winn will battle it out for a place alongside Chris Holroyd in attack.
Cardiff boss Malky Mackay could rest his entire first-choice XI. Goalkeeper David Marshall, striker Craig Bellamy and captain Mark Hudson look certain to miss the game while the likes of Joe Lewis, Joe Ralls and Etien Velikonja are set to get some valuable game time. Former Leeds midfielder Stephen McPhail, who has not featured since the opening match of the season, could return having been a regular for the development side. Peter Whittingham (knee) will definitely not feature, while striker Nicky Maynard is out for the season.
Top scorers (all competitions): Matthew Barnes-Homer (Macclesfield) 18; Heidar Helguson (Cardiff) 8
Match odds: H 11-2 A 8-15 D 3-1
Referee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire)
Manchester City v Watford
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero (hamstring) will miss out but controversial forward Mario Balotelli is available after recovering from a virus. Manager Roberto Mancini, who has been pictured grappling with Balotelli in a training-ground bust-up, has said the 22-year-old could be on the bench but forward Samir Nasri is suspended and Yaya Toure, Kolo Toure and Abdul Razak are on international duty. Defenders Aleksandar Kolarov and Maicon (both knee) are
not yet ready to return while right-back Micah Richards (knee) and midfielder Jack Rodwell (hamstring) are longer-term casualties.
Fitz Hall (hamstring) will miss the trip to the Etihad Stadium while Manuel Almunia (also hamstring) and Almen Abdi (pelvis) are both doubts. Hall sat out the 4-3 defeat to Charlton on New Year’s Day, while Almunia and Abdi were injured during that match. Defender Lloyd Doyley is fit again after a calf injury.
Top scorers (all competitions): Sergio Aguero & Edin Dzeko (Man City) 10; Matej Vydra (Watford) 12
Match odds: H 1-7 A 14-1 D 7-1
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Middlesbrough v Hastings
Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray will be without no fewer than 13 senior players. Central defender Jonathan Woodgate (calf) and striker Scott McDonald (hamstring) joined the casualty list after the Championship defeat at Derby. They have joined full-back Justin Hoyte (hip) and fellow defenders Seb Hines, Andre Bikey and George Friend (all hamstring), as well as midfielders Josh McEachran (ankle) and Faris Haroun (also hamstring), on the sidelines. Mowbray has problems in attack too with Emmanuel Ledesma (knee) and Marvin Emnes (hamstring) also ruled out.
Hastings player-manager Sean Ray has a near fully-fit squad to choose from. His only concern is over goalkeeper Matt Armstrong-Ford (knee) and Ray has brought in Liam O’Brien on loan from Barnet as cover.
Top scorers (all competitions): Scott McDonald (Middlesbrough) 10; Zac Attwood & Bradley Goldburg (Hastings) 6
Match odds: H 1-8 A 16-1 D 8-1
Referee: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire)
Millwall v Preston
Danny Shittu and Adam Smith are available for Millwall. The Nigerian federation has allowed Shittu to stay with the Lions this weekend ahead of the African Nations Cup, while fellow defender Smith has been permitted to play by parent club Tottenham. Winger Scott Malone (back) could also be in contention while midfielder Tamika Mkandawire has returned from his loan spell at Southend. Winger Chris Taylor (knee) and striker Andy Keogh (broken toe) look set to miss out again along with skipper Paul Robinson (pelvis).
Nicky Wroe returned to Preston’s starting line-up against Hartlepool on New Year’s Day despite a persistent knee complaint and Jack King climbed off his sickbed to help the victory effort, but Lee Holmes (groin) remains out. Bailey Wright sustained a head injury in that match and could join fellow defenders Paul Huntington, Scott Laird (broken leg) and Keith Keane (knee) on the sidelines. Chelsea youngster Todd Kane is available for the final time before his loan spell ends, while Anthony Elding has returned to Grimsby.
Top scorers (all competitions): Darius Henderson (Millwall) 7; Nicky Wroe (Preston) 8
Match odds: H 7-10 A 4-1 D 13-5
Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)
Nottingham Forest v Oldham
Striker David McGoldrick and midfielder Jonathan Greening are back at Forest after loan spells at Coventry and Barnsley respectively but striker Matt Derbyshire, who recently returned to Forest following a loan spell at Oldham, is ineligible having played for the Latics in the previous two rounds. Marcus Tudgay, back from a loan spell at Barnsley, is expected to be unavailable for the next six weeks after suffering a broken collarbone and he joins on-loan Chelsea defender Sam Hutchinson (knee) on the sidelines.
Oldham will be without James Wesolowski (suspended) and Cristian Montano (thigh), but Robbie Simpson returns from suspension and is expected to feature in midfield alongside Dean Furman, who will play his final game for the Latics before departing to represent South Africa in the African Nations Cup. Oldham manager Paul Dickov took the precaution of only allowing eight players to train on Thursday, including two goalkeepers.
Top scorers (all competitions): Billy Sharp (Nottm Forest) 10; Jose Baxter (Oldham) 10
Match odds: H 8-13 A 9-2 D 11-4
Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire)
Oxford v Sheffield United
Oxford’s midfield duo Jake Forster-Caskey and Lee Cox have returned to parent clubs Brighton and Swindon respectively, while Daniel Boateng is also returning to his parent club Arsenal having made just five appearances for the Us.
ichael Duberry was one of Oxford’s best performers in the win over Cheltenham having replaced the ill Michael Raynes to leave manager Chris Wilder with a defensive selection dilemma. Striker James Constable begins a three-game ban following his dismissal against AFC Wimbledon.
Forward Jamie Murphy could make his Sheffield United debut after he completed his move from Motherwell on Thursday. Defender Harry Maguire is available again after suspension. Goalkeeper Mark Howard (thigh) returned to training this week but is hoping to feature in a couple of development games before being considered for a first-team return.
