Football: Bart-Williams awaits the call to head Wednesday attack

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY are set to turn to Chris Bart-Williams as an emergency striker in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final derby against Sheffield United at Wembley.

Bart-Williams missed Wednesday's sixth-round victory over Derby as he was playing for England in the World Youth Cup in Australia. Now, with doubts over the match fitness of Paul Warhurst (groin) and David Hirst (thigh), the 18-year-old former Leyton Orient midfielder is on standby to partner Mark Bright.

Warhurst, the converted defender whose injury forced him out of England's trip to Turkey, is to have further treatment at Hillsborough today before Wednesday travel south, followed by a fitness test tomorrow. Hirst, who completed half of Tuesday's reserve fixture at Liverpool before being withdrawn, has not played a full game since January and may start on the bench.

Wednesday's assistant manager, Richie Barker, admitted it was 'not the ideal preparation' for the biggest match in the city's history. But he pointed out that the team had enjoyed their best run of the season when Bart-Williams and Warhurst were thrown together in a makeshift partnership in February.

Barker said he expected the greater experience of players like Chris Waddle, Chris Woods and Bright to work in Wednesday's favour at Wembley, although he acknowledged that the Owls do not have a single player with an FA Cup winner's medal. While Unitedites are setting great store by the fact that they may have four Sheffielders in their side, Barker felt that might make them 'more pent- up, whereas we can be relaxed'.

Wednesday's other injury worry, which concerned John Harkes's dislocated toe, was resolved yesterday when the American international midfielder declared himself 'a bit sore but fit' after scoring in the reserves' 1-0 win at Anfield. Harkes has appeared at Wembley before, in the Rumbelows Cup victory over Manchester United two years ago, but this will be his first derby 'start'.

'I've got used to the stick that United fans give you when you're out shopping or whatever, but my wife, who only came over last year, couldn't believe how everyone seemed to know my face,' Harkes said. 'The violence between the rival fans appears to have died down and I think it's going to be a great day.'

Harkes revealed that around 15 family and friends were coming from the United States for Saturday's showdown, with as many as 35, from as far apart as California and New Jersey, already booked up 'for the Final'. Realising that this choice of phrase might be seen as provocatively presumptuous, he added hastily: 'The Coca Cola Cup final, that is.'

Gordon Durie, the Tottenham striker, has broken down in training and needs groin surgery - his second operation in six months. He may miss the rest of the season. Arsenal, Spurs' opponents in Sunday's FA Cup semi- final at Wembley, have ruled out the defender, Steve Bould, who has a pulled thigh muscle. Paul Davis (hamstring), Paul Merson (groin) and Alan Smith (ankle) are all doubtful.