FA Cup preview: City eye Notts redemption

Manchester City host League One side Notts County in an FA Cup fourth-round replay on Sunday, with Fulham and Arsenal also in action.

Roberto Mancini’s expensively assembled side were fortunate to escape with a draw in January’s fourth-round match at Meadow Lane, with new signing Edin Dzeko the hero for City, scoring an equaliser in the 80th minute to secure a 1-1 draw.

Mancini rested star striker Carlos Tevez for the clash, but the Italian manager’s willingness to use the Argentine in their Europa League first leg against Aris Thessaloniki on Tuesday in Greece could see the English Premier League’s second-highest goal scorer this season appear at Eastlands on Sunday.

But vying for a spot up front for City will be Italian import Mario Balotelli, who is on the brink of a return from injury.

“By the time the weekend comes, he will have another week of training under his belt and will be available for selection if the manager picks him,” First team coach David Platt told the Manchester Evening News.

Paul Ince’s Notts County brought up their first win in seven matches in all competitions with a 2-0 league victory over Colchester on Tuesday, a necessary morale booster before their trip to Manchester.

City, meanwhile, will be riled by their loss to rivals Manchester United on Sunday in the Premier League, which all but ended their title aspirations.

They will be without Adam Johnson and Nigel de Jong on Sunday.

Notts County midfielder Neal Bishop will be hoping to replicate his goal against City from their initial clash last month, while other dangerous players for the visitors include the Premier League-experienced Lee Hughes (formerly of West Bromwich Albion), Stephen Darby (Liverpool) and Jon Harley (Fulham/Chelsea).

In Sunday’s other matches, Bolton Wanderers travel to Fulham’s Craven Cottage for an all-Premier League fifth-round match.

Arsenal, fresh from their 2-1 Champions League round-of-16 first-leg victory over Barcelona, travel to Brisbane Road to take on League One side Leyton Orient.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is likely to make significant changes to his regular line-up as the team attempt to maintain a challenge in four competitions this season.