Carling Cup: Steven Reid will make just his second start of the season when Blackburn Rovers take on Nottingham Forest in the Carling Cup tonight. The Republic of Ireland midfielder has recovered from an ankle injury and starts at the City Ground.

Reid is unlikely to figure in Ireland’s remaining World Cup qualifiers – Giovanni Trapattoni names his squad for the matches against Italy and Montenegro on Friday – but is hoping a good run at club level can remind the Italian what he has been missing.

Elsewhere this evening, Philippe Senderos returned to the Arsenal team for the first time since May 2008 as manager Arsene Wenger once again fielded a young side in the their third-round clash with West Brom at the Emirates Stadium.

The Switzerland international, back following a loan spell at AC Milan, partnered veteran Mikael Silvestre, captain tonight, in central defence, while 19-year-old Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny made his debut.