Team news ahead of this weekend's FA Cup action.
Arsenal v Blackburn
Thierry Henry and Cesc Fabregas are back after being rested for Arsenal's replay win at Bolton. William Gallas returns after thigh trouble, Philippe Senderos is available after a ban, while Manuel Almunia again deputises for the rested Jens Lehmann in goal. Alexander Hleb (virus) and Johan Djourou (knee) are out and Emmanuel Eboue (ankle) is doubtful, while Gilberto, Julio Baptista and Abou Diaby may be rested.
Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy (Achilles) is out while Morten
Gamst Pedersen (hamstring) remains on the sidelines. Midfielder
Tugay is rested but Bruno Berner and Christopher Samba return to
the squad after being ineligible for Wednesday's UEFA Cup defeat at
Bayer Leverkusen.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Top scorers: Robin Van Persie (Arsenal) 13; Benni
McCarthy (Blackburn) 15
Match odds: H 4-9 A 6-1 D 5-2
Referee: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
Chelsea v Norwich
Defender Ricardo Carvalho has made a full recovery and should start alongside skipper John Terry. Mikel Jon Obi returns to the Chelsea squad after a thigh problem but Ashley Cole (knee), Joe Cole (foot) and Michael Ballack (thigh) are unavailable.
City boss Peter Grant is set to name an unchanged side, with
Jason Shackell fit again and set to continue his partnership with
Dion Dublin at the heart of the defence. Winger Luke Chadwick
remains out with a knee injury while Robert Earnshaw faces at least
another two months on the sidelines with his torn groin.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Top scorers: Didier Drogba (Chelsea) 25; Robert
Earnshaw (Norwich) 17
Match odds: H 1-9 A 16-1 D 5-1
Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).
Man Utd v Reading
Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to return to the United line-up after recovering from the virus which kept him out of the win over Charlton — he should be one of three or four changes for the Red Devils. Wayne Rooney is suspended, and Edwin van der Sar is still missing with a broken nose.
Reading boss Steve Coppell makes a late decision on striker
Kevin Doyle, who has almost recovered from the hamstring problem
which has sidelined him for more than a month. Coppell, who intends
playing fringe players tomorrow, has no other injury worries
— but Michael Duberry and Greg Halford are cup-tied.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Top scorers: Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) 15; Leroy
Lita (Reading) 13
Match odds: H 1-4 A 15-2 D 19-5
Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).
Middlesbrough v West Brom
Boro duo Jonathan Woodgate and Julio Arca may return after respective hamstring and ankle trouble. South Korea striker Dong Gook Lee is available after being ineligible for the fourth round replay defeat of Bristol City, while Stuart Parnaby and Chris Riggott are back in training following knee injuries.
Albion captain Curtis Davies is willing to delay an operation on
a broken nose so he can play tomorrow. Jonathan Greening has
completed a two-match ban in time to feature against his former
club, while Nathan Ellington, Jason Koumas and Kevin Phillips
— rested for the midweek win at Colchester — are in the
squad.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Top scorers: Ayegbeni Yakubu (Middlesbrough) 14;
Diomansy Kamara (West Brom) 19
Match odds: H 4-6 A 7-2 D 23-10
Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire).
Plymouth v Derby
Plymouth defender Marcel Seip is suspension-free, timely with Hasney Aljofree and Mat Doumbe banned. Rory Fallon is cup-tied while fellow striker Barry Hayles completes a ban. Midfielders Akos Buzsaky (hamstring) and Paul Wotton (knee), full-back Tony Capaldi (groin) and striker Nick Chadwick (groin) all miss out.
Derby captain Matt Oakley and striker Craig Fagan are banned,
while left-back Jay McEveley and midfielder Gary Teale are
cup-tied. Midfielder Seth Johnson could replace Oakley, Mo Camara
is likely to deputise for McEveley, while Morten Bisgaard is set to
replace Teale. Jon Macken will hope to start in attack.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Top scorers: Barry Hayles (Plymouth) 11; Steve
Howard (Derby) 14
Match odds: H 8-5 A 7-5 D 21-10
Referee: M Dean (Wirral).
Watford v Ipswich
Veteran Watford defender Malky Mackay is rated no better than 50-50 to recover from a calf injury in time for the match. Midfielders Gareth Williams, Lee Williamson and Will Hoskins are cup-tied, while defenders Clarke Carlisle (thigh) and James Chambers (ankle) are not yet considered ready for first-team action.
Ipswich captain Jason De Vos (foot) and fellow defender Richard
Naylor (toe) are doubts, while midfielder Owen Garvan is suspended.
With Gavin Williams (pelvis) sidelined, George O'Callaghan is in
line for a full debut. Alan Lee is banned and Jonathan Walters
cup-tied, so teenagers Billy Clarke and Danny Haynes could be
partnered in attack while Dean Bowditch (groin) comes into
contention.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Top scorers: Will Hoskins (Watford) 16; Alan Lee
(Ipswich) 12
Match odds: H 8-13 A 4-1 D 23-10
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
Fulham v Tottenham
Fulham captain Michael Brown — the former Tottenham midfielder — is banned, but defender Carlos Bocanegra is back after suspension and Ian Pearce may return despite a thigh strain. Goalkeeper Antti Niemi is still out with a back problem and on-loan Spurs winger Wayne Routledge is ineligible.
Jermain Defoe and Jermaine Jenas are suspended but centre-backs
Anthony Gardner (calf) and Ricardo Rocha (dead leg) hope to shake
off knocks, while Aaron Lennon should play after recovering from a
stomach bug. Tom Huddlestone has recovered from a throat infection
but Ledley King (foot) remains sidelined for Spurs.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Top scorers: Brian McBride (Fulham) 11; Jermain
Defoe (Tottenham) 14
Match odds: H 13-8 A 6-4 D 19-10
Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).
Preston v Man City
Preston striker Brett Ormerod faces several months on the sidelines — Patrick Agyemang, Neil Mellor and Danny Dichio hope to start. Sean St Ledger may come in for suspended defender Kelvin Wilson, while winger Lewis Neal (neck), defender Youl Mawene (knee) and midfielder Joe Anyinsah (cartilage) remain sidelined. Midfielder Adam Nowland is building match fitness following a broken leg.
Darius Vassell (hamstring) is doubtful and Georgios Samaras and
Bernardo Corradi seem certain to be paired up front, with Emile
Mpenza unlikely to figure even if City tie up the paperwork on a
short-term deal. Nicky Weaver (kidneys) is a major doubt, so
Andreas Isaksson should continue in goal. Nedum Onuoha (hamstring)
and Paul Dickov (broken foot) are definitely out.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Top scorers: David Nugent (Preston) 13; Georgios
Samaras (Man City) & Joey Barton (Man City) 6
Match odds: H 6-4 A 6-4 D 21-10
Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire)