Football: Guide to the FA Cup and Premiership

MATCH OF THE WEEKEND (FA CUP FIFTH ROUND, SUNDAY 2.0)

Manchester United v Fulham

ALEX FERGUSON could deploy Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Andy Cole (left) and Dwight Yorke in a three-pronged attack tomorrow as his Premiership leaders take on Kevin Keegan's Second Division pace-setters.

Although Ferguson may choose to use all three front men at the same - following their eight-goal haul last week against Nottingham Forest - Fulham's goalkeeper, Maik Taylor, maintains that he does not feel like a condemned man who is about to be had for a late breakfast. "Those guys are on fire at the moment," said Taylor.

"The goals tally tells you that they are the best around and between the three of them, they have by far scored the most goals in the Premiership. But they don't scare us, and we're not going to be frightened off by that. I'm just going to try to play my normal game and enjoy the whole day."

Yorke, Cole and Solskjaer have netted 53 goals between them this season, and it will be Taylor who will stand as the last line in the Cottagers' defence and try to stop them adding to that tally. Ferguson has hinted he will play Solskjaer, who despite his bit-part role this season has scored 15 goals, but United will be without the suspended Roy Keane and Paul Scholes. "So they're putting out a weak side," Taylor joked yesterday. "Is there such a thing with United considering the incredible strength in depth they've got?"

At least the Fulham keeper should not be overawed by playing in front of a full house at Old Trafford. The Northern Ireland B international kept goal at the Theatre of Dreams two years ago during his brief stint in the Premiership with Southampton. He performed well that day and made a fine save from Eric Cantona before the Frenchman beat him to secure a 2-1 win for United.

"That's a game which is definitely lodged in the memory banks," said the 27-year-old. "It was an unbelievable atmosphere playing in front of 56,000 people. We lost to a late goal from Eric Cantona and although the result went against us, it was still a wonderful experience. I'm really looking forward to going back because for me, playing on grounds like that helps bring out the best in me." Fulham will be without their striker Geoff Horsfield, who is suspended, so Barry Hayles is likely to partner Paul Peschisolido (right) up front. The Belgian international Philippe Albert, on loan from Newcastle, is ineligible tomorrow but Neil Smith is available after a ban.

United's Jaap Stam is available despite doubts over a hamstring problem. Gary Neville is still feeling the effects of an injured knee but is in the squad and should play.

MANCHESTER UNITED (from) Schmeichel, Van der Gouw, G Neville, Irwin, Johnsen, Stam, Beckham, Butt, Cole, P Neville, Curtis, Blomqvist, Yorke, Solskjaer, Berg, Brown, May.

FULHAM (from): Taylor, Arendse, Brevett, Symons, Coleman, Morgan, Uhlenbeek, Finnan, Hayward, Smith, Collins, Brazier, Neilson, Hayles, Peschisolido, Lehmann, Salako.

Suspensions: Manchester United: Scholes, Keane. Fulham: Horsfield.

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).

TODAY'S FA CUP FIFTH ROUND MATCHES

Arsenal v

Sheffield United

ARSENAL HAVE paid a heavy price for having so many players involved in Wednesday's international at Wembley. Tony Adams will be rested even though a scan has dispelled fears that he may have broken his nose in the game against France, while Martin Keown is out for three weeks after pulling a hamstring. Lee Dixon, the third Gunner in England's back line, was carried off with concussion and is still troubled by a neck injury.

Emmanuel Petit starts a three-match ban and with Matthew Upson doubtful with a groin injury the holders could have Gilles Grimandi and Steve Bould in central defence. Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu may be on the bench after receiving his work permit, Nelson Vivas looks set to replace Dixon at right-back with Stephen Hughes taking over from Petit in midfield. Fredrik Ljungberg (ankle) and Luis Boa Morte (knee) are still out.

Sheffield United have Wayne Quinn back from suspension. Midfield player Curtis Woodhouse, Paul Devlin and David Holdsworth should be given the all-clear after undergoing treatment for minor knocks, but there is a doubt over Roger Nilsen who will undergo a fitness test on a hamstring problem.

ARSENAL (from): Seaman, Vivas, Grimandi, Bould, Upson, Winterburn, Parlour, Vieira, Hughes, Overmars, Bergkamp, Anelka, Kanu, Diawara, Garde, Manninger.

SHEFFIELD UNITED (from): Kelly, Quinn, Derry, Sandford, Holdsworth, Marcelo, Woodhouse, Twiss, Devlin, Stuart, Nilsen, Morris, Ford, Anderson, Henry, Tracey.

Suspensions: Arsenal: Petit.

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).

Barnsley v

Bristol Rovers

BARNSLEY STRIKER Mike Sheron could make his debut after finally recovering from a hamstring injury following his pounds 1m move from Queen's Park Rangers last month. The availability of the much-travelled Sheron will be especially welcome as fellow forward Mike Turner is Cup-tied and former Wolves striker Don Goodman is still struggling with his own hamstring problem.

Adie Moses and Darren Sheridan both return from one-match bans, with the duo likely to be in the starting line-up and on the bench respectively. Craig Hignett should be fit despite a calf injury, while Matt Appleby could come into contention despite a thigh strain which forced him out of last week's 2-2 draw with Crewe.

The Bristol Rovers player-manager, Ian Holloway, will make a late decision over his side. Mike Trought could get the nod to line up at centre-back for the Second Division side, alongside Steve Foster with Andy Thomson Cup-tied. In midfield, Josh Low, Stephane Leoni and Michael Meaker are vying for one place.

BARNSLEY (from): T Bullock, Eaden, Moses, De Zeeuw, Tinkler, Jones, Appleby, Richardson, Morgan, McClare, Hignett, Sheridan, M Bullock, Dyer, Hendrie, Goodman, Marcelle, Rose, Markstedt, Sheron, Leese.

BRISTOL ROVERS (from): Jones, Pritchard, Challis, Trees, Trought, Foster, Holloway, Low, Lee, Penrice, Meaker, Cureton, Roberts, Leoni.

Suspensions: None.

Referee: A Wilkie (Chester-le-Street).

Everton v

Coventry City

THE RETURN of Danny Cadamarteri after suspension gives Everton manager Walter Smith the rare luxury of picking from three strikers. Cadamarteri, 18-year-old Francis Jeffers who made his full debut at Derby last Sunday, and Ibrahima Bakayoko will all be considered.

In defence Marco Materazzi is still suspended and Slaven Bilic and Alex Cleland are long-term injury victims. David Unsworth has been having intensive treatment on a pulled calf muscle that forced him off at half-time in the 2-1 defeat at Derby.

If Unsworth is ruled out, Craig Short could be pushed back into action after seven weeks out with a torn calf although he is not considered fully fit yet. Smith is likely to revert to a 4-4-2 formation, with veteran Dave Watson lining up alongside Richard Dunne and Michael Ball.

George Boateng and David Burrows return to Coventry's team after one- match suspensions and new Bosnian signing Mo Konjic is set to make his full debut following his pounds 2m transfer from Monaco. Paul Williams is out with a hamstring injury.

EVERTON (from): Myhre, Ward, Unsworth, Short, Watson, Dunne, Ball, Dacourt, Hutchison, Barmby, Cadamarteri, Jeffers, Bakayoko, Simonsen, Milligan, Jevons.

COVENTRY CITY (from): Hedman, Nilsson, Shaw, Konjic, Burrows, Boateng, McAllister, Soltvedt, Froggatt, Huckerby, Whelan, Breen, Telfer, Aloisi, Gioacchini, Edworthy, Quinn, Ogrizovic.

Suspensions: Everton: Materazzi.

Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield).

Huddersfield v

Derby County

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN'S Welsh international defender Steve Jenkins is out after picking up an ankle injury during last Saturday's defeat at Port Vale which also forced him of the midweek B international against Northern Ireland. Sam Collins (shin splints) is also out, while Grant Johnson is doubtful with a groin problem, with the duo both having missed the Vale Park clash. With a lengthy list of long-term injured, manager Peter Jackson adds Jon Dyson to the squad after a comeback in the reserves this week following a lengthy lay-off with an Achilles problem.

Dean Sturridge is on course to play for Derby after missing two matches with a hamstring pull but fellow striker Paulo Wanchope is definitely out, also with a hamstring injury. If Sturridge is passed fit, he will partner Deon Burton, who scored for Jamaica in midweek following his double against Everton last Sunday. German defender Stefan Schnoor is available after serving a one-match ban and midfielder Lars Bohinen has recovered from flu and is back in the squad.

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN (from): Vaesen, Edwards, Johnson, Gray, Beresford, Phillips, Stewart, Allison, Thornley, Barnes, Hessey, Facey, Heary, Dyson, Senior, Baldry, Edmondson, Beech.

DERBY COUNTY (from): Hoult, Prior, Carbonari, Stimac, Laursen, Carsley, Eranio, Dorigo, Baiano, Sturridge, Burton, Harper, Powell, Hunt, Schnoor, Bohinen, Elliott, Knight.

Suspensions: None.

Referee: G Willard (Worthing).

Sheff Wed v

Chelsea

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY left-back Andy Hinchcliffe is undergoing extensive treatment after twisting his knee in training with England earlier this week, although a scan has ruled out the need for surgery.

Goalkeeper Kevin Pressman will begin re-staking his claim for the No 1 shirt as Czech international Pavel Srnicek begins a three-match ban following his dismissal for serious foul play in the recent defeat by Derby.

Gianluca Vialli is set to recall himself for Chelsea and is likely to rest young Finnish striker Mikael Forssell. Defenders Michael Duberry and Albert Ferrer are both back in contention after recovering from injuries.

Vialli, who celebrated his first anniversary as Chelsea player-manager this week, said of the FA Cup yesterday: "I like the passion of the competition and what it means to players and supporters alike. The atmosphere is special and it is great how the less famous teams try to upset the famous ones. All the foreign players at Chelsea want to do well in the Cup and go as far as possible in it."

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (from): Pressman, Atherton, Jonk, Newsome, Walker, Carbone, Booth, Sanetti, Cobian, Humphreys, Briscoe, Stefanovic, Oakes, Hinchcliffe, Emerson, Rudi, Alexandersson, Sonner, Clarke.

CHELSEA (from): De Goey; Ferrer, Myers, Duberry, Lambourde, Desailly, Babayaro, Leboeuf, Le Saux, Petrescu, Terry, Di Matteo, Nicholls, Morris, Newton, Wise, Goldbaek, Zola, Vialli, Forssell, Hitchcock.

Suspensions: Sheff Wednesday: Srnicek.

Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).

TOMORROW'S FA CUP (4.0)

Newcastle v

Blackburn

ALAN SHEARER returns to action for Newcastle against his old club. The England captain is back after suspension, but Greek defender Nikos Dabizas must sit out a second game. Frenchman Didier Domi returns from a hamstring injury, probably at the expense of Warren Barton, and club captain Rob Lee is in the squad after missing eight games with an Achilles injury.

Swiss defender Stephane Henchoz is a major doubt for Blackburn Rovers. Henchoz, who was suspended for last Saturday's Premiership win at Aston Villa, Blackburn's first away from home, returned this week from international duty with a thigh strain and will need a late check. Blackburn will be missing suspended winger Jason Wilcox and the Cup-tied duo Jason McAteer and Matt Jansen.

Manager Brian Kidd will give fitness tests today to Irish defender Jeff Kenna (ankle) and Scottish midfielder Billy McKinlay (groin) but winger Keith Gillespie has declared himself fit to return against his former club. He scored the goal which beat Sunderland in the previous round but missed the win at Villa Park with an ankle problem.

NEWCASTLE UNITED (from): Given, Harper, Griffin, Charvet, Howey, Domi, Speed, Hamann, Solano, Glass, Shearer, Ketsbaia, Lee, Barton, Saha, Andersson, Georgiadis, Brady, Pearce, Dalglish.

BLACKBURN ROVERS (from:) Filan, Davidson, Kenna, Henchoz, Peacock, Broomes, Dunn, Duff, McKinlay, Sutton, Ward, Davies, Dailly, Marcolin, Flowers, Gillespie.

Suspensions: Newcastle: Dabizas. Blackburn: Wilcox.

Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury).

TODAY'S FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP

Charlton v

Liverpool

ALAN CURBISHLEY, the Charlton manager, has to make decision on new signing John Barnes and striker Clive Mendonca. Former Newcastle player Barnes declared himself fit after a run-out in the reserves against Cambridge on Wednesday, but Curbishley said he may need more match action before he returns to the Premiership. Mendonca also played 90 minutes in the reserves. The Addicks' top scorer has been out with a groin injury since Christmas. Defensive duo Eddie Youds and Richard Rufus are both out. Youds has tendinitis and Rufus has a broken arm but is trying to get clearance to play wearing in a lightweight cast.

Liverpool captain Paul Ince picked up a leg injury during England's 2- 0 defeat by France at Wembley on Wednesday and is a doubt. Patrik Berger has a hamstring problem and youngsters David Thompson or Steven Gerrard could be drafted into midfield. Steve Staunton, who was withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad for the Dublin game against Paraguay with a calf strain, should be fit to play. Rigobert Song, who was an unused substitute in last weekend's 3-1 win over Middlesbrough, will also be staking a claim.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC (from): Royce, Mills, Tiler, Brown, Konchesky, Robinson, Redfearn, Kinsella, Powell, Hunt, Pringle, Ilic, Jones, Barness, Bright, Newton, Mendonca, Barnes.

LIVERPOOL (from): James, Heggem, Staunton, Carragher, Matteo, Harkness, Bjornebye, Redknapp, Ince, McManaman, Owen, Fowler, Riedle, Friedel, Thompson, Gerrard, Song, Kvarme, Leonhardsen.

Suspensions: None.

Referee: M Reed (Birmingham).

West Ham v

Nottingham Forest

WEST HAM defender Neil Ruddock is fit again to play and is likely to replace Julian Dicks, who has flu. Ian Wright, Marc Keller and Richard Hall all remain on the injured list. John Moncur also has a touch of flu and is rated as doubtful, but Steve Lomas has recovered from his illness.

Nottingham Forest's Ron Atkinson hopes to have Stale Stensaas, Steve Chettle and John Harkes available. Jean-Claude Darcheville, who looked to be out of the running after damaging a hamstring in last Saturday's 8-1 defeat by Manchester United, could also be in contention. His problem is not as serious as first feared and the French striker could yet figure in Atkinson's plans. Stensaas, meanwhile, is well on the road to recovery from the thigh injury that forced him to miss the United defeat. Harkes, who was nursing a sore hamstring earlier in the week, has been given the go-ahead to play while Chettle has shaken off a bad bout of flu.

WEST HAM UNITED (from): Hislop, Ruddock, Ferdinand, Pearce, Lomas, Minto, Lazaridis, Sinclair, Lampard, Foe, Berkovic, Di Canio, Kitson, Forrest, Cole, Hodges, Omoyimni, Potts, Moncur, Abou, Coyne.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST (from): Beasant, Harkes, Stensaas, Armstrong, Palmer, Hjelde, Mattsson, Chettle, Stone, Gemmill, Johnson, Rogers, Porfirio, Van Hooijdonk, Darcheville, Freedman, Shipperley, Bart-Williams, Woan, Bonalair, Crossley.

Suspensions: None.

Referee: R Harris (Oxford).

Leeds United v Tottenham

LEEDS UNITED manager David O'Leary faces further injury headaches. He is without long-term absentees Gary Kelly, Robert Molenaar, Martin Hiden and David Batty, and midfielders Bruno Ribeiro (toe) and Stephen McPhail (knee) are still out of action. Of major concern are ankle injuries to David Hopkin and Lee Bowyer, while Jonathon Woodgate has not trained all week because of a back problem.

Teenage striker Alan Smith is fit after bruising an instep and will be partnered up front by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink who missed last week's defeat by Newcastle through suspension.

Tottenham captain Sol Campbell, who pulled out of England's midweek friendly against France, is doubtful. after missing training this week with a stomach virus. But the centre-back is in a squad of 20 for the game along with Frenchman David Ginola, who looks to have made a complete recovery from hamstring trouble which has kept him out of the last three matches.

Ginola, however, could be kept back for the Worthington semi-final second leg at Wimbledon next Tuesday - the trophy which manager George Graham admits is his priority this season. "I've worked hard with the fitness trainer for three days this week and everything seems fine now," said Ginola, who damaged the hamstring in the goalless first leg of the Worthington semi 17 days ago. Since then he has had to report for day-long treatment every weekday morning.

Meanwhile Ramon Vega and Colin Calderwood are on standby for Campbell. Tim Sherwood, Tottenham's pounds 4m signing from Blackburn, looks set for his full debut.

LEEDS UNITED (from): Martyn, Haaland, Radebe, Wetherall, Korsten, Wijnhard, Hasselbaink, Bowyer, Hopkin, Granville, Halle, Kewell, Harte, Woodgate, Smith, Jones, Knarvik, Robinson.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (from): Walker; Carr, Vega, Young, Campbell, Calderwood, Edinburgh, Taricco, Fox, Anderton, Freund, Nielsen, Sherwood, Sinton, Ginola, Dominguez, Armstrong, Ferdinand, Iversen, Baardsen.

Suspensions: None.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).