FEB 15-17: FA CUP TEAM NEWS

TEAM news is key when it comes to FA Cup ties but more important is a manager's attitude to the tournament.

It's not always possible for me as a tipster but I'd advise seeing starting line-ups before having a bet. Anyway here's some team news that may or may not help.

Cardiff v Wigan

Cardiff duo Kenwyne Jones and Fabio are cup-tied having featured for Stoke and Manchester United earlier in the competition while the Bluebirds are waiting for United to confirm Wilfried Zaha's availability. The winger was an unused substitute in the Red Devils' third-round defeat to Swansea. Spanish defender Juan Cala will make his debut while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may opt to hand starts to the Norwegian trio of Magnus Wolff Eikrem, Mats Moller Daehli and Jo Inge Berget. Craig Bellamy is suspended.

On-loan Wigan striker Nicky Maynard does not have permission to play against his parent club while both defender Rob Kiernan and forward Martyn Waghorn are cup-tied. Midfielder James McArthur has been struggling with illness and will not travel while top scorer Nick Powell (hamstring) has not played since January. Ivan Ramis, nearly signed by the Bluebirds in the transfer window, is back in full training following a soft-tissue injury but Gary Caldwell (Achilles) and Shaun Maloney (shoulder) are long-term absentees.

Manchester City v Chelsea (5.15)

Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri is back in contention after five weeks out with a knee injury. Fellow midfielder Javi Garcia is also available again after a muscle strain but top scorer Sergio Aguero (hamstring), defender Matija Nastasic (knee) and another midfielder in Fernandinho (muscle injury) are still out. Manager Manuel Pellegrini has not revealed whether he will persist with his usual cup policy of playing second-choice keeper Costel Pantilimon ahead of Joe Hart.

A calf injury to Gary Cahill means a defensive reshuffle is required for Chelsea. The England defender requires a scan to ascertain the severity of the injury and he's joined John Terry (muscular strain) in the treatment room. Right-back Branislav Ivanovic is likely to be deployed at centre-back, Cesar Azpilicueta at right-back and Ashley Cole will come into the side at left-back.

Sheffield Wednesday v Charlton

Sheffield Wednesday's new loan signings Leon Best, Sam Hutchinson and Gary Gardner could all feature. Gardner's arrival offsets the injury blow suffered by Jose Semedo, who fractured his fibula and damaged ligaments in the midweek defeat to Wigan. Boss Gray also hopes to be boosted by the return of centre-half Glenn Loovens who has missed the last three games due to a hamstring injury.

Charlton manager Chris Powell has rated first-choice goalkeeper Ben Hamer 50-50 to be fit because of an ankle injury which has restricted him to just one appearance since November 23. Left-back Rhoys Wiggins (hamstring) could miss out once more while the Addicks are still without defenders Chris Solly and Leon Cort (both knee) as they look for relief in the cup after four successive league defeats.

Sunderland v Southampton

Sunderland defender Wes Brown will belatedly start his two-match suspension. Striker Ignacio Scocco is set to make his debut for the club, while there will be a chance too for midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini, but defender Carlos Cuellar (hip) will be given another week and frontman Steven Fletcher (Achilles) and goalkeeper Keiren Westwood (shoulder) remain on the sidelines.

Southampton have no fresh injury concerns and assistant manager Jesus Perez suggested there will not be wholesale changes at the Stadium of Light from the team which won at Hull in the Premier League in midweek. Dejan Lovren and Gaston Ramirez suffered ankle ligament damage in the league meeting between the sides a month ago and, despite rehabilitation going well, remain absent.

Arsenal v Liverpool (Sun)

Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla is doubtful because of illness but Mathieu Flamini returns from a three-game suspension. Defender Thomas Vermaelen (knee) continues his recovery, while midfielder Aaron Ramsey (thigh) and deadline-day loan signing Kim Kallstrom (back) are also not fit. Abou Diaby and Theo Walcott are long-term absentees with their respective knee injuries.

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger could be pushing for a start after making his comeback from a calf injury in midweek. Kolo Toure would be the centre-back under threat to lose his place after a couple of high-profile errors in the last couple of weeks. The match probably comes too early for full-back Glen Johnson who is more likely to be fit for next week after ankle and groin problems while midfielder Joao Carlos Teixeira will be hoping to build on his senior debut at Fulham on Wednesday.

Everton v Swansea (Sun)

Loan striker Lacina Traore is set to make a delayed debut after being denied his Goodison Park bow by the postponement of Wednesday's match against Crystal Palace. Fellow on-loan striker Romelu Lukaku is still a week away from fitness while defender Antolin Alcaraz has returned to training but will not be match-ready until the start of March.

Garry Monk will make a late decision on Michu's fitness. The Spaniard was not risked in the games against Cardiff and Stoke and will be assessed in training on Friday. David Ngog and Marvin Emnes are both cup-tied having featured for Bolton and Middlesbrough respectively in earlier rounds of the competition.

Sheffield United v Nottingham Forest (Sun)

Guy Moussi is set to miss out for Nottingham Forest with a calf injury. David Vaughan, Chris Cohen, Dexter Blackstock (all knee), Kelvin Wilson, Henri Lansbury (both back) and Eric Lichaj (hernia) remain on the sidelines. Only Lichaj and Wilson are anywhere near to making a return to first-team action, with the former set to be fit in seven to 10 days and the latter four weeks away.

Blades skipper Michael Doyle returns to contention following suspension but on-loan Doncaster striker Billy Paynter, Elliott Whitehouse and Callum McFadzean are all ineligible. Manager Nigel Clough has no new injury or suspension problems, with forwards Chris Porter and Shaun Miller, who scored the extra-time winner at Fulham in a fourth-round replay, are pushing for recalls.

Brighton v Hull (Mon)

Will Buckley is set to make his first start of 2014 having been sidelined with a hamstring injury since December 29. He returned to action as a second-half substitute against Leeds in midweek. Jake Forster-Caskey was an unused substitute after overcoming a similar problem and is also in contention to make the starting line-up. Keith Andrews (hamstring), Andrew Crofts (knee), Will Hoskins (knee) and Craig Mackail-Smith (Achilles) are all expected to watch from the sidelines.

Sone Aluko is in line for his first start in four months, having made two substitute appearances in the league since returning from an Achilles injury. He is expected to start up front with Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic cup-tied. Paul McShane is out for six months with an ankle injury, keeper Allan McGregor has completed a three-game ban and the likes of George Boyd, Yannick Sagbo, Robert Koren, Abdoulaye Faye and Robbie Brady will all be hoping to return to the starting XI.

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