The weekend's matches in England
Leyton Orient
v
Arsenal
ORIENT midfielder Matthew Spring is a doubt because of a calf problem and will be handed a late fitness check. Adam Chambers is a definite absentee with a shin injury, while defender Terrell Forbes will hope for a recall after dropping to the bench at MK Dons in midweek.
Theo Walcott is expected to recover from a slight hamstring strain and centre back Johan Djourou is also likely to be included if he recovers from a back problem suffered against Barcelona. Bacary Sagna is available after returning from suspension but midfielder Abou Diaby is still banned. Striker Marouane Chamakh returns. Top scorers: Alex Revell (Leyton Orient) 14; Samir Nasri (Arsenal) 14.
Match odds: H 8-1 A 3-10 D 9-2.
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).
Stoke City
v
Brighton
THOMAS SORENSEN will replace Asmir Begovic in goal for Stoke, but Matthew Etherington (hamstring) is a doubt. Andy Wilkinson is likely to return at right back after being rested for last week’s defeat at Birmingham.
On-loan West Brom strike Chris Wood (foot) and midfielder Matt Sparrow (knee) should be in the Brighton squad after returning to training following injuries. Bulgarian midfielder Radostin Kishishev is out for personal reasons, winger Craig Noone is cup-tied and Jim McNulty (ankle), Jamie Smith (foot) and Alan Navarro (cruciate) are long-term absentees.
Top scorers: Robert Huth and Kenwyne Jones (Stoke) 7; Glenn Murray (Brighton) 14.
Match odds: H 7-10 A 19-5 D 11-4.
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
West Ham Utd
v
Burnley
WEST HAM are expected to give a debut to midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger on Monday night after he suffered a serious thigh injury while playing for Germany last summer. James Tomkins (calf) and Matthew Upson (Achilles) will be assessed over the weekend after they both missed last week’s 3-3 draw at West Brom but Robbie Keane is out with a calf injury.
Burnley will be without Charlie Austin and Marvin Bartley as both are cup-tied. David Edgar’s loan move to Swansea has broken down and he will come into contention.
Top scorers: Victor Obinna, Frederic Piquionne and Carlton Cole (West Ham) 8; Chris Iwelumo and Chris Eagles (Burnley) 11.
Match Odds: H 10-11 A 3-1 D 5-2.
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
Birmingham City
v
Sheffield Wednesday
BIRMINGHAM boss Alex McLeish will make changes with defenders Martin Jiranek (thigh) and Liam Ridgewell (calf) unlikely to be risked after suffering injuries against Newcastle in midweek. The likes of Kevin Phillips, Matt Derbyshire, Alexander Hleb, Lee Bowyer, Keith Fahey, Stuart Parnaby, David Murphy, Jordon Mutch and Colin Doyle are all in contention.
Wednesday will be without suspended midfielder Giles Coke and striker Gary Madine who is not eligible. Neil Mellor is likely to team up with Clinton Morrison and Chris Sedgwick is expected to be recalled.
Top Scorers: Craig Gardner and Nikola Zigic (Birmingham) 7; Neil Mellor (Sheff Wed) 14.
Match odds: H 4-6 A 4-1 D 14-5.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).
English FA Cup Teams news and statistics
Fulham
v
Bolton Wanderers
CLINT DEMPSEY (toe) and Simon Davies (ankle) are expected to feature at Craven Cottage. Philippe Senderos (Achilles) and Bobby Zamora (broken leg) are on course in their rehabilitation from long-term injuries.
Bolton will be without half of their first-choice back four. Zat Knight is expected to miss six weeks with a knee ligament injury while Sam Ricketts ruptured his Achilles against Wigan and is out for the season. With full backs Gretar Steinsson and Jlloyd Samuel sidelined, Marcos Alonso may again be asked to deputise, while in-form striker Daniel Sturridge is cup-tied.
Top scorers: Clint Dempsey (Fulham) 10; Johan Elmander (Bolton) 10.
Match odds: H 21-20 A 21-10 D 11-5.
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).
Chelsea
v
Everton
DIDIER DROGBA will start for Chelsea in place of the cup-tied Fernando Torres after being dropped for the draw at Fulham. David Luiz is also ineligible as he was not a Chelsea player at the time of the original tie and the game comes too soon for Jose Bosingwa, while Alex (knee) and Yossi Benayoun (Achilles) are still sidelined. But Yuri Zhirkov could make his first appearance for three months after recovering from a calf problem.
Everton will be without Louis Saha, who missed last week’s loss at Bolton with a hamstring injury and is still a few days away from returning to training.
Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea) 14; Louis Saha and Tim Cahill (Everton) 9.
Match odds: H 6-10 A 9-2 D 3-1.
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).
Manchester Utd
v
Crawley Town
WITH Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans ruled out and Nemanja Vidic likely to be rested, Wes Brown or John O’Shea will probably fill a central defensive berth. Anders Lindegaard or Tomasz Kuszczak will replace Edwin van der Sar in goal, whilst Javier Hernandez, Gabriel Obertan and Bebe can all expect to play a part.
Crawley will be without midfielder Scott Neilson who has failed to recover from a foot injury, but Pablo Mills is expected to return. Defender John Dempster and midfielder Josh Simpson are cup-tied having played in previous rounds for Kettering and Southend respectively. Top scorers: Dimitar Berbatov (Man Utd) 20; Matthew Tubbs (Crawley Town) 28.
Match odds: H 1-20 A 25-1 D 8-1.
Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).
Manchester City
v
Notts County
JAMES MILNER is City’s major injury concern. The midfielder is suffering from a tight hamstring and will be monitored before Roberto Mancini decides whether to play him or not. Nigel de Jong (ankle) is doubtful but Mario Balotelli should play after recent knee problems.
Notts County boss Paul Ince has a doubt over winger Lewis Gobern (thigh) and on-loan midfielder David Martin will miss out with a groin injury. Winger Alan Judge also misses out again with a foot injury. Loan duo Conor Clifford and Kevin McDonald are ineligible as they were not registered with the club before the original tie.
Top scorers: Carlos Tevez (Man City) 20; Lee Hughes (Notts County) 12.
Match odds: H 1-5 A 12-1 D 11-2.
Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire).
