Premier League FA Cup team news

Aston Villa v Blackburn: Villa winger Ashley Young will return after suspension and is likely to replace Nigel Reo-Coker, who…

Aston Villa v Blackburn:Villa winger Ashley Young will return after suspension and is likely to replace Nigel Reo-Coker, who made a rare start in the 1-0 defeat by Liverpool.

Villa hope striker Emile Heskey will be fit after illness. It will be the first of two meetings in four days with Blackburn, whom they visit for the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final on Tuesday.

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce is expected to make several changes to his starting line-up with the Carling Cup clash in mind. David Dunn (calf) is back in full training following a month out and Brett Emerton is set for a late fitness test after the groin injury which cut short his Christmas schedule.

Vince Grella is still recuperating from a thigh problem, but Franco Di Santo is available after extending his loan deal from Chelsea..

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Bolton v Lincoln
Bolton midfielder Gavin McCann is pushing for a place in the starting line-up. McCann came on for the last 15 minutes of the draw with Hull in midweek after recovering from an ankle injury.

That proved to be Gary Megson’s last game as manager, leaving assistant boss Chris Evans and head coach Steve Wigley in temporary charge. They could be tempted to freshen things up with a trip to Arsenal looming on Wednesday.

Everton v Carlisle
Everton manager David Moyes will be short of strikers. Jo has been suspended by the club for returning to Brazil without permission, Ayegbeni Yakubu is away with Nigeria while Louis Saha has a hamstring injury.

Defender Joseph Yobo has also linked up with Nigeria ahead of the African Nations Cup despite a hamstring injury ruling him out of recent matches.

Fulham v Swindon
Fulham defender Brede Hangeland will undergo a fitness test on a knee injury. Left back Paul Konchesky should figure despite suffering a back spasm.

John Pantsil could be missing for the rest of the season because of a knee injury but Andy Johnson is expected to make his first start since recovering from a groin problem.

Middlesbrough v Man City
Shaun Wright-Phillips is City's major injury concern after missing the last three games with an ankle injury. Stephen Ireland (hamstring) is out for a fortnight. Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor are both missing on African Nations Cup duty and Roque Santa Cruz (calf) is doubtful.

MK Dons v Burnley
Burnley defenders Tyrone Mears and Stephen Jordan are both suspended and centre back Steven Caldwell (groin) is out for a month.

Owen Coyle's side are still awaiting permission from Portsmouth to allow on-loan David Nugent, whose temporary deal is set to expire this month, to feature.

Nottingham Forest v Birmingham
Birmingham full back Stephen Carr is suspended and Stuart Parnaby is poised to come in. Keith Fahey, Gregory Vignal, Kevin Phillips, Lee Carsley, Gary McSheffrey and Franck Queudrue could also come in.

Number two goalkeeper Maik Taylor, who played instead of Joe Hart in this season’s Carling Cup ties, is ruled out with a back problem which has required an injection.

Portsmouth v Coventry
Portsmouth will not be allowed to play on-loan Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara. Kanu, Hassan Yebda, Nadir Belhadj and Aruna Dindane are all away at the African Nations Cup. England international David James (calf) remains a doubt, so Asmir Begovic could continue in goal.

Reading v Liverpool
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will resist the temptation to make wholesale changes to his side. Benitez is already without Glen Johnson because of a knee injury sustained in the win at Aston Villa on Tuesday, while midfielder Javier Mascherano is still serving a suspension.

Winger Albert Riera, back in training after a calf injury, is unlikely to be involved.

Stoke v York
Stoke will be without Ryan Shawcross with the defender serving a suspension following five bookings. Full back Andy Wilkinson is also a doubt with a muscle injury as boss Tony Pulis considers making changes.

Michael Tonge and Dave Kitson are both back from loans at Preston and Middlesbrough, respectively, and could figure.

Sunderland v Barrow
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is likely to stick with the 11 who claimed a Premier League point at Blackburn.

Central defender Michael Turner is suspended. John Mensah, Lee Cattermole and midfielder Andy Reid (all hamstring), Kenwyne Jones and Kieran Richardson (both calf) and Anton Ferdinand (ankle) are all out, while Steed Malbranque remains a doubt with a thigh strain. Craig Gordon has been given the green light to step up his return from a broken arm.

Tottenham v Peterborough
Tottenham pair Aaron Lennon and Benoit Assou-Ekotto have groin problems and are ruled out. Ledley King played on Monday and may be rested, with Sebastien Bassong fit to deputise. Jermain Defoe has a slight foot complaint but should be fit.

Wigan Athletic v Hull City
Wigan goalkeeper Mike Pollitt is on stand-by to replace Chris Kirkland after the latter complained of being unwell during the 5-0 thrashing by Manchester United on Wednesday. Although manager Roberto Martinez expects his first-choice goalkeeper to have recovered, he may decide against risking him.

The Spaniard has already hinted he will use all his squad players for the cup tie, which means the likes of Jason Koumas, James McCarthy, Cho Won-Hee and Antonio Amaya may start.

Hull are set to make wholesale changes with Kevin Kilbane, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Peter Halmosi, Steven Mouyokolo, Caleb Folan, Kamel Ghilas and NathanDoyle in contention to play.

Youngsters Liam Cooper and Tom Cairney could alsobe in the reckoning but defender Paul McShane (hamstring) is unlikely to be risked.

Chelsea v Watford
Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka is back from a calf injury. Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou and John Obi Mikel miss out as they are on African Nations Cup duty with their respective countries.

Essien (hamstring) is injured anyway, while Jose Bosingwa (knee) is also on the sidelines but Florent Malouda returns from suspension.

Man Utd v Leeds
Veteran duo Gary Neville and Paul Scholes are expected to return for Manchester United. Neville has now recovered from a groin injury and Scholes is also over a hip complaint.

Nemanja Vidic and Wes Brown should continue in central defence, while Wayne Rooney will be looking to add to his 15-goal tally for the season.

Tranmere v Wolves
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is to field his strongest available side. McCarthy came in for criticism after sending out a second-string side in last month's Premier League clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford.

George Friend, David Jones and Sam Vokes, now available after a loan spell at Leeds, are included in the squad.

West Ham v Arsenal
West Ham quartet Mark Noble, Scott Parker, Danny Gabbidon and Herita Ilunga are all struggling with hamstring injuries.

Mexican striker Guillermo Franco is suspended while Carlton Cole (knee) and Kieron Dyer (hamstring) are both long-term absentees. Jonathan Spector is likely to deputise for Ilunga against the Gunners while Junior Stanislas and Luis Jimenez provide Gianfranco Zola with attacking midfield options.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger looks set to rotate his squad. Captain Cesc Fabregas (hamstring), Denilson (back) and Theo Walcott (side strain) are all sidelined, but Czech winger Tomas Rosicky is in contention and veteran defender Mikael Silvestre and reserve goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski could both also feature.

Midfielder Alex Song will play before jetting off to the African Nations Cup, but Emmanuel Eboue is already away with the Ivory Coast. Nicklas Bendtner (groin), Gael Clichy (back), Kieran Gibbs (foot), Robin van Persie (ankle) and Johan Djourou (knee) remain out.