Saturday, March 12th
Birmingham v Bolton
Lee Bowyer, David Bentley, Keith Fahey, Stephen Carr, Liam Ridgewell, Craig Gardner and Nikola Zigic are all rated doubtful for Blues. Alexander Hleb, plus long-term casualties Scott Dann and James McFadden, are definitely ruled out. Manager Alex McLeish will take a late decision on whether to include Barry Ferguson, who has had an injection to ease the pain from his broken rib.
Bolton boss Owen Coyle has no fresh injury worries. Chelsea loanee Daniel Sturridge is cup-tied, which could open the way for Ivan Klasnic, who has scored the winner in the last two rounds. Ricardo Gardner joined Preston on loan this week after recovering from a knee injury while Jlloyd Samuel (thigh), Zat Knight, Sean Davis, Joey O’Brien (all knee) and Sam Ricketts (Achilles) remain on the sidelines.
Last season:
No corresponding fixture
Top scorers (all competitions):
Nikola Zigic (Birmingham) 8; Johan Elmander (Bolton) 10
Match odds:
H 17-10 A 17-10 D 21-10
Referee
: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
Manchester United v Arsenal
Alex Ferguson welcomes back Nemanja Vidic from suspension but could be without 10 senior players at Old Trafford. Nani joined a long injury list after sustaining a deep wound to his leg at Liverpool last Sunday, although Ferguson is hopeful of having Darren Fletcher back from illness. Rio Ferdinand (calf) is amongst those definitely out but the return of Vidic should help stabilise a defence that has conceded five goals in its last two games.
Arsenal will be without captain Cesc Fabregas after the Spain midfielder aggravated his hamstring problem in the midweek Champions League defeat to Barcelona. Robin van Persie is set to skipper the side having made a swifter-than-expected return from a knee injury to play at the Nou Camp, but goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny (hand) is out. England forward Theo Walcott (ankle), midfielder Alex Song (knee) and centre-half Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) remain unavailable.
Last season:
No corresponding fixture
Top scorers (all competitions)
: Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 20; Samir Nasri & Robin van Persie (Arsenal) 14
Match odds:
H 21-20 A 13-5 D 12-5
Referee
: Chris Foy (Merseyside).
Sunday, March 13th
Manchester City v Reading
Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli could be doubtful after he suffered an allergic reaction in the 2-0 defeat by Dynamo Kiev in the Europa League last 16 on Thursday. Skipper Carlos Tevez and midfielder Nigel de Jong could return to the starting XI but James Milner is expected to be ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Reading captain Matt Mills is a major doubt to face former club Manchester City after he suffered a groin injury after just 15 minutes in the midweek win at Ipswich. He will be given as long as possible to prove his fitness, but manager Brian McDermott will field veteran Ivar Ingimarsson if required. Winger Jobi McAnuff could return from an ankle injury, while right-back Andy Griffin has been sidelined for the last four matches with an Achilles injury. Goalkeeper Adam Federici is still out with a knee injury, so 21-year-old Alex McCarthy will continue to deputise. On-loan QPR midfielder Mikele Leigertwood has permission to play and will look to add to his club record of 17 appearances for the Royals without tasting defeat. Defender Chris Armstrong was forced to retire this week as he battles multiple sclerosis.
Last season:
No corresponding fixture
Top scorers (all competitions):
Carlos Tevez (Man City) 21; Shane Long (Reading) 20
Match odds
: H 2-5 A 7-1 D 7-2
Referee
: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).
Stoke v West Ham
Thomas Sorensen will step in for first-choice Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic as he has done for the previous rounds of the FA Cup. Matthew Etherington, who came on as a substitute in last week’s 3-0 Barclays Premier League defeat to the Hammers, appears to be fully over his recent back problems so is in contention to start against his old club, but fellow winger Jermaine Pennant has a knee complaint and will be assessed ahead of the game. Abdoulaye Faye could return after recovering from a hamstring injury, while Danny Higginbotham is available again having missed the match at Upton Park because his wife had gone into labour.
West Ham striker Robbie Keane could start after recovering from a calf injury. Scott Parker suffered a minor shoulder injury during the Hammers’ 3-0 win over the Potters last week but is available for Sunday’s clash at the Britannia Stadium. Gary O’Neil is cup-tied, Kieron Dyer has been sent out on loan to Ipswich and Jack Collison (knee) and Junior Stanislas (hernia) are out, but Victor Obinna could start after recovering from a foot knock.
Last season:
No corresponding fixture
Top scorers (all competitions):
Kenwyne Jones, Robert Huth & Jonathan Walters (Stoke) 7; Carlton Cole (West Ham) 11
Match odds
: H 23-20 A 5-2 D 9-4
Referee
: Mike Jones (Cheshire).
