Saturday 3 January 2015

FA CUP STATISTICS, TEAM NEWS, PREDICTIONS

Theo Walcott: Could make his Arsenal comeback 


Team news and statistics for Sunday's action in the third round of the FA Cup, including Arsenal v Hull.

 

Sunday, January 4
Arsenal v Hull
Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina is expected to start as Arsenal take on Hull in a repeat of last year's FA Cup final, but Danny Welbeck (thigh) and Lukas Podolski (groin) are still expected to be out, while Olivier Giroud serves the last part of his three-match suspension. Theo Walcott could come back into the side following a return to fitness, along with midfielder Mathieu Flamini, but Aaron Ramsey (hamstring), Mikel Arteta (calf), Mesut Ozil (knee), Abou Diaby (calf) and Jack Wilshere (ankle) all remain out.
Hull welcome back Tom Huddlestone from a four-game suspension, Stephen Quinn returns from a one-match ban and the likes of Harry Maguire, Tom Ince and Yannick Sagbo will all be pushing for rare starts. There are gaps to fill elsewhere, with Andy Robertson (ankle), Liam Rosenior (hamstring), Gaston Ramirez (groin), Mohamed Diame (knee) and Michael Dawson (hamstring) all missing.
Top scorers (all competitions): Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) 15; Nikica Jelavic (Hull) 6
Referee: Robert Madley (West Yorkshire)
Aston Villa v Blackpool
Ron Vlaar is likely to be out for Villa after he limped off with a knee injury in their 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace on Thursday. Fabian Delph is still suspended while Ashley Westwood, Nathan Baker and Libor Kozak are out. Jack Grealish, Shay Given and Matt Lowton could all start with Villa boss Paul Lambert expected to rotate his squad.
Blackpool have been hit by loanees returning to their parent clubs. Winger Jacob Murphy, who apologised earlier this week when a social media image of him mocking the Seasiders' plight leaked online, unsurprisingly returned to Norwich in the aftermath of an internal investigation. The Seasiders have also lost Donervon Daniels, John Lundstram and Stuart O'Keefe to their parent clubs since their last game on December 28 against Rotherham. Striker Ishmael Miller is at least back from suspension.
Top scorers (all competitions): Callum Robinson (Aston Villa) 5; Steven Davies & Nathan Delfouneso (Blackpool) 3
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)
Chelsea v Watford
Striker Diego Costa and forward Eden Hazard are among the front-line Chelsea players who could be rotated out, while Petr Cech could replace Thibaut Courtois in goal, depending on the severity of the latter's finger injury. Jose Mourinho will aim to balance fielding a side to advance with one which gives his players a rest after an arduous festive fixture schedule which included Thursday's 5-3 loss at Tottenham.
Watford will have to make at least one change as midfielder Adlene Guedioura has returned to Crystal Palace at the end of his loan spell. Sebastien Bassong, who missed Sunday's 4-2 win at Cardiff due to a dead leg, is ineligible to feature under the terms of his loan deal from Norwich. Fellow defenders Joel Ekstrand (back) and Gabriel Tamas (cruciate) are still on the sidelines, but strikers Troy Deeney and Matej Vydra could return to the starting line-up.
Top scorers (all competitions): Diego Costa (Chelsea) 14; Troy Deeney (Watford) 9
Match odds: H 1-7 A 11-1 D 5-1
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
 
Dover v Crystal Palace
Goalkeeper Mitch Walker could return for the first time since September for Dover. The former Brighton stopper has beaten elbow trouble to return to full training this week, but boss Chris Kinnear is likely to keep faith with Andy Rafferty to start against Palace. Kinnear admitted he has faced selection headaches ahead of this tie - but should field a settled squad.
Palace will give fitness tests to Damien Delaney and James McArthur - the Eagles pair picked up unspecified injuries in the goalless at Aston Villa on New Year's Day and are to be assessed. Glenn Murray, Jack Hunt and Adlene Guedioura are available after returning from loan spells, but Mile Jedinak is away on international duty with Australia.
Top scorers (all competitions: Stefan Payne (Dover) 12; Dwight Gayle (Crystal Palace) 6
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)

Man City v Sheff Wed
City are still without captain Vincent Kompany (calf/hamstring) and strikers Edin Dzeko (calf) and Sergio Aguero (knee). Midfielder Fernando is available again after suspension but Yaya Toure could be involved for the final time before joining up with Ivory Coast for the African Nations Cup. Second-choice goalkeeper Willy Caballero may keep his place for another game with England number one Joe Hart rested.
Wednesday will be without on-loan pair Royston Drenthe and Lewis McGugan after they returned to parent clubs Reading and Watford respectively. Captain Glenn Loovens overcame a hamstring strain to start at Wigan and is expected to resume in defence, while fellow centre-half Kamil Zayatte is in contention for his first appearance since September following a long-term hamstring problem.
Top scorers (all competitions): Sergio Aguero (Man City) 19; Stevie May (Sheff Wed) 7
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

QPR v Sheff Utd
QPR boss Harry Redknapp is likely to rest several key players. Rob Green, Richard Dunne, Joey Barton and Clint Hill have all featured regularly over the busy Christmas schedule and are likely to sit out the match. Sandro and Alejandro Faurlin are both ruled out with knee injuries while Yun Suk-young remains sidelined with an ankle problem and Adel Taarabt is not considered fit enough to play.
James Wallace returns to the Blades squad after overcoming groin and hamstring issues to return to full training. Defender Chris Basham is suspended for the first of a three-match ban after his straight red card in the Boxing Day defeat to Port Vale. The Blades will also be without striker Chris O'Grady and defender Paddy McCarthy, who have returned to respective parent clubs Brighton and Crystal Palace.
Top scorers (all competitions): Charlie Austin (QPR) 12; Che Adams & Marc McNulty (Sheff Utd) 8
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)

Southampton v Ipswich
Saints will again be without right-back Nathaniel Clyne (foot), but France midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin is available after being suspended for the win over Arsenal. Midfielder Sadio Mane is set for a scan after limping off after scoring against the Gunners. Japan defender Maya Yoshida has left on international duty at the Asia Cup in Australia.
Mick McCarthy must decide whether to bring Tyrone Mings back into the Ipswich side after he returned from having an infected toe. With a number of Premier League clubs reportedly monitoring the 21-year-old, it will be interesting to see if McCarthy allows Mings to become cup-tied. Luke Hyam is also available again after an Achilles problem, but Noel Hunt has returned to Leeds following the conclusion of his loan spell.
Top scorers (all competitions): Graziano Pelle (Southampton) 11; Daryl Murphy (Ipswich) 17
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

Stoke v Wrexham
Bojan Krkic remains out with a hamstring problem for Stoke, while boss Mark Hughes may take the opportunity to give fringe players such as goalkeeper Jack Butland and midfielder Oliver Shenton a chance to stake a claim with a rare run out.
Louis Moult and Andy Bishop both face a fitness battle for Wrexham. Moult, a former trainee with the Potters, must shrug off an ankle injury and Bishop has a hamstring problem. Jon Flatt is set to end his spell on loan from Wolves by coming back into the starting line-up, as Andy Coughlin continues his recovery from injury and fellow loanee Dan Bachmann drops out to return to Stoke. Captain Dean Keates remains sidelined by a thigh strain.
Top scorers (all competitions): Mame Biram Diouf & Jonathan Walters (Stoke) 6; Louis Moult (Wrexham) 11
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)

Sunderland v Leeds
Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole has a groin injury and will not feature after the problem also kept him out of Thursday's 3-2 Barclays Premier League defeat at Manchester City. However, head coach Gus Poyet will have a tailor-made replacement available following Liam Bridcutt's return after concussion, while full-backs Patrick van Aanholt (shoulder) and Anthony Reveillere (calf) are expected to resume training next week.
Leeds are expected to be without defenders Stephen Warnock and Jason Pearce. Warnock was forced out of the defeat at Derby due to an ankle injury and centre-back Pearce has been struggling with a knee problem that has ruled him out of the previous two matches. Head coach Neil Redfearn must decide whether to start with right-footed Gaetano Berardi at left-back in Warnock's absence or recall Charlie Taylor, whose last appearance was in August.
Top scorers (all competitions): Adam Johnson (Sunderland) 5; Mirco Antenucci (Leeds) 8
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
Yeovil v Man Utd
Yeovil boss Gary Johnson is keeping his side's injury worries close to his chest. The Glovers boss admits a number of his players are sidelined but hopes the unnamed squad members will be ready to face the Red Devils. Jordan Clarke is one player that definitely will not feature as he remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Ashley Young has been ruled out for United because of the hamstring injury he suffered against Stoke on New Year's Day. Midfielder Angel di Maria is back in training following his pelvic injury and could feature. Marcos Rojo (thigh), Daley Blind (knee) and Marouane Fellaini (illness) are all major doubts.
Top scorers (all competitions): Jordan Clarke & Kieffer Moore (Yeovil) 4; Wayne Rooney & Robin van Persie (Man Utd) 8
Match odds: H 7-1 A 1-4 D 4-1
Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)

Monday, January 5
AFC Wimbledon v Liverpool
Sammy Moore and Adebayo Akinfenwa will be fit for AFC Wimbledon after recovering from illness and a leg injury respectively. Millwall youngster Jake Goodman is eligible to play what will be the final game of his loan spell while defender Adam Barrett will be unavailable for Wimbledon as his loan from Gillingham expires on Sunday. Defenders Jack Smith (hamstring) and Andy Frampton (ankle) are set to miss out again.
Defender Martin Skrtel returns from suspension for Liverpool and fellow centre-back Dejan Lovren could make his first appearance since December 17 after recovering from a groin injury. Captain Steven Gerrard, who has announced he will be leaving the club in the summer, is likely to be rested while striker Mario Balotelli needs to be assessed after missing Thursday's draw with Leicester through injury.
Top scorers (all competitions): Matt Tubbs (AFC Wimbledon) 15; Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) 7
Referee: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire)

Burnley v Tottenham
Burnley boss Sean Dyche will make changes to his starting line-up for the first time in seven games, with defence a concern. Captain Jason Shackell picked up a calf problem in the draw at Newcastle before his replacement Kevin Long suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury. Michael Duff (calf) is still out, while Dyche must check on the availability of on-loan Manchester United centre-half Michael Keane.
Ryan Mason is not expected to feature for Spurs - the midfielder lasted just 11 minutes of the New Year's Day defeat of Chelsea after picking up a hamstring injury when stretching for the ball. Erik Lamela missed that match with a minor calf complaint and may not be risked against Burnley, against whom head coach Mauricio Pochettino is likely to rotate his squad.
Top scorers (all competitions): Danny Ings (Burnley) 5; Harry Kane (Tottenham) 17
Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire)

Tuesday, January 6
 Everton v West Ham
Everton manager Roberto Martinez is likely to make changes as he looks to bounce back from four straight league defeats. The Spaniard could recall Romelu Lukaku and Samuel Eto'o up front but Antolin Alcaraz is suspended following his late red card at Hull.
West Ham will be without Senegal forward Diafra Sakho and midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate as they head off on international duty for the African Nations Cup, while Alex Song could yet be a late call up for Cameroon. Defender James Tomkins is available after suspension and winger Matt Jarvis is pressing for a start after coming off the bench against West Brom on New Year's Day.
Top Scorers: Romelu Lukaku & Kevin Mirallas (Everton) 7; Diafra Sakho (West Ham) 9
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)

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