[FA Cup] Preview: Everton vs Birmingham

看板Everton作者jjjttt時間15年前 (2010/01/23 13:29)推噓12(12推 0噓 3→)

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Osman back for Everton Updated: January 22, 2010, 3:32 PM UK Midfielder Leon Osman returns for Everton's fourth round FA Cup clash with fellow Premier League side Birmingham at Goodison Park. The 28-year-old missed last week's victory over Manchester City with a hamstring problem. Everton's long-standing injury list appears to be shortening with Jack Rodwell and Dan Gosling (both hamstring) likely to return for next week's league visit of Sunderland. Mikel Arteta and Victor Anichebe, who both sustained serious knee injuries last season, are almost ready for their comebacks. Everton manager David Moyes believes the FA Cup represents the club's best chance of a trophy - and a passage into Europe - this season. Although the Toffees are into the knockout phase of the Europa League Moyes thinks that particular competition is not far advanced enough for their odds of winning to have reduced considerably. But with the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool - two teams Everton beat on their run to the final last season - already out the FA Cup looks a better bet, especially if they can get past fellow Premier League side Birmingham. Qualification for Europe currently looks an outside prospect for Moyes' side as they are 10 points behind seventh-placed Aston Villa. "The Europa League has got a longer way to go and I think it is really tough for anyone to win it because you have got game after game, home and away,'' he said. "If you get the FA Cup draws at home it could be much easier. Possibly at the moment the FA Cup (is the easier one to win) but there are a lot of good teams still in it.'' Birmingham newcomer Michel could finally make his debut. The 24-year-old play-maker, signed from Sporting Gijon for ￡3million, was included in the squad for last weekend's Barclays Premier League game at Portsmouth which was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. City manager Alex McLeish has no other new injury worries ahead of the fourth-round tie after a four day warm weather training break in Malta. Full-back David Murphy has returned to training after recovering from a fractured knee cap but is not included in the squad. McLeish admits Birmingham would have to "punch above their weight'' to have any chance of emulating the Carling Cup success of city rivals Aston Villa in this season's FA Cup. Villa fans are cock-a-hoop after reaching their first major final for a decade after their dramatic semi-final triumph over Blackburn. And McLeish knows the expectations of the Blues supporters are sky high after a 14-game unbeaten run in all competitions lifted them into the top 10 of the Barclays Premier League. But he accepts City will be underdogs when they face revitalised Everton. McLeish said: "We know the expectations of supporters have gone up after seeing the way we have played this season and with the new owners making money available for players. "It has perked the fans up a bit and given them a new sense of optimism. We have surprised people with the way we have performed during the first half of the season. It would be marvellous to go to Goodison Park and win but we would have to be punching above our weight to achieve what Aston Villa have done although there is nothing wrong in having the vision that you can cause an upset.'' 傷病的情況漸漸好轉，Arteta和Rodwell就快回來了，希望可以趕上歐巴聯的淘汰賽。 -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 115.135.248.41