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Football : Arsenal to make late decision on Wright

Tuesday 04 February 1997 00:02 GMT
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Arsenal will make a late decision on Ian Wright for tonight's FA Cup fourth-round tie against Leeds at Highbury.

Wright was a late substitute in the goalless Premiership draw between the sides at Elland Road on Saturday and is still struggling with a hamstring strain and a touch of flu. Another flu victim, Nigel Winterburn, missed training yesterday.

Martin Keown will return to the defence after suspension, although Dennis Bergkamp must complete a three-match ban, which could mean another striking role for Paul Merson, who needs only one more goal to complete a century of goals for the Highbury club.

Wimbledon meet Manchester United tonight - for the third time in 11 days - in their fourth-round replay at Selhurst Park.

The Dons have looked a shadow of their usual ebullient selves recently as their congested fixture list begins to take its toll, but their manager, Joe Kinnear, is confident that tiredness and niggling injuries will be forgotten at kick-off. "Tiredness doesn't come into it," he said, "but we know now that we've got a nine-day break after this, so it's just a question of pulling something out of the bag."

United will welcome back Nicky Butt and Ronny Johnsen; Butt has been out of action since taking a kick on the top of his instep on New Year's Day, while Johnsen has missed the last three starts because of a hamstring strain.

United's teenage full-back, Michael Clegg, has been outstanding in the last three games, and Alex Ferguson, the United manager, said the return of the senior players may not cost the 19-year-old his place.

"Players deserve to be considered when they do as well as that," he said. "The boy has done fantastically well. Saturday was his fourth game in 10 days so he can be very pleased with himself.

"We know how hard it's going to be against Wimbledon. Joe Kinnear has done a fabulous job this season and has got a blend of skill and ruggedness. The team and the squad are getting stronger, but we are optimistic."

Ferguson joined up with his players in London yesterday after returning from Spain, where he spent his second successive Sunday. It is understood he was watching Real Betis win 3-0 at Athletic Bilbao 3-0, increasing speculation that he is about to make a bid for the Spanish international defender, Roberto Rios of Real Betis, whom he also watched last weekend.

Woking, the GM Vauxhall Conference side who held Coventry to a 1-1 draw at Highfield Road last week, have the chance to earn a fourth-round tie against Blackburn if they win tonight's replay at Kingfield.

"It's the biggest night in our history. It's a complete sell-out of 6,000 and we had to turn away around 2,000 people last Thursday," Geoff Chapple, the Woking manager, said.

Chapple is likely to name the same side that started last week. Coventry's new signing from Birmingham, Gary Breen, is cup-tied, so Brian Borrows, dropped to make way for Breen, should be recalled.

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