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Stoke boss Tony Pulis has confirmed Matthew Etherington is in line for a shock return. Etherington was taken off on a stretcher in the initial tie 11 days ago amid fears he had suffered serious knee ligament damage. But following a rapid recovery the winger will now be assessed over the next 24 hours and may undergo a late fitness test. Pulis is without Abdoulaye Faye and Andy Wilkinson through suspension, whilst Danny Higginbotham will have a fitness test after missing Saturday's 2-1 win at Portsmouth with a back spasm. | |||||
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Manchester City will be without Carlos Tevez for the fourth successive game when they travel to Stoke for Wednesday night's FA Cup fifth-round replay. Tevez has been in Argentina on compassionate leave following the premature birth of his baby daughter, although manager Roberto Mancini has confirmed he expects the striker to return in time for Saturday's trip to Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League. Mancini will also be without the cup-tied Adam Johnson and Patrick Vieira, who was handed a three-match suspension by the Football Association after kicking out at Glenn Whelan in last week's league encounter with the Potters. Martin Petrov is unlikely to have recovered from his knee problem in time to feature, while Kolo Toure and Roque Santa Cruz will undergo late fitness tests. | |||||