Thread: FA Cup 9th Jan
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Old 09-01-2007, 13:53
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Re: FA Cup 9th Jan

Quote:
Reading ready to face Burnley in Cup
Reading striker Kevin Doyle has reassured fans he has no intention of moving to another club.

The Republic of Ireland striker has been a huge hit in the Royals' first Premiership season and has already scored 11 goals, including one for his country.

That has seen his name linked with a number of rival clubs and Reading were quick to offer him a contract extension last week that was as much a hands-off warning to them as a pay rise for the player.

But the 23-year-old, who cost just £78,000 from Cork City in the summer of 2005, was more than happy with that.

He told the Reading Evening Post: 'I am more than happy where I am. There is no need to go anywhere. I don't want to unsettle myself by moving. That can upset your game. Hopefully the best years are ahead of me and I am developing all the time.

'There is still plenty to learn, but I have the right manager to teach me and hopefully I can do even better.

'I am very happy at Reading, so what is the point of going anywhere else? This is the place to be. We have a great manager, a great chairman, great players, a stadium that can get bigger, a good training ground and a great town.'

The manager in question, Steve Coppell, is set to leave Doyle on the sidelines for the next match, the FA Cup third-round visit of Burnley which was abandoned just minutes before kick-off on Saturday.

Torrential rain made the pitch unplayable and continued to fall in Berkshire for some time afterwards. The game, which will see the winners travel to either Birmingham or Newcastle in the fourth round, is expected to go ahead as scheduled, however.

That will be welcome news for two of the younger players Coppell intends to play.

Teenage defender Scott Golbourne was in line for his first senior start on Saturday while for goalkeeper Adam Federici, understudy to USA international Marcus Hahnemann, the Burnley tie will be his debut.

The team Coppell picked on Saturday will remain more or less the same which means striker Dave Kitson, out since the opening day of the season, should make a comeback at some point.

The former Cambridge United player had been named as a substitute on Saturday, along with untried teenager defender Alex Pearce.

Fringe men Ulises de la Cruz, Sam Sodje, Andre Bikey, John Oster and Shane Long were all down to start, as was USA winger Bobby Convey, out since October with a knee problem.

Burnley manager Steve Cotterill is unlikely to have Frank Sinclair available.

Sinclair had been a concern for Saturday's game with a groin problem and was not named in the 16-man squad.

John McGreal was set to partner Stephen Foster in the centre of defence in the absence of Mike Duff, who serves a one-match suspension.

Ade Akinbiyi is set to start following his arrival from Sheffield United, with Kyle Lafferty dropping to the bench.

Goalkeeper Danny Coyne (hamstring) and top scorer Andy Gray (foot) remain on the sidelines as the Clarets search for their first win in seven games.


Barnet v Colchester
Defender Anthony Charles is added to Barnet's list of absentees for the rearranged FA Cup clash with Colchester.

Charles would have been able to play had the game not been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and now misses out as he serves a one-match ban.

Goalkeeper Lee Harrison and midfielder Dean Sinclair should return to the team, but defender Adam Gross (ankle) and forward Jason Norville (thigh) are sidelined.

Boss Paul Fairclough believes cup football gives his club an extra edge ahead of the clash, having enjoyed cup wins over Championship clubs Plymouth and Cardiff in the past two seasons.

``Maybe people just put in that little bit more emphasis for FA Cup games, and go into things in a little more detail,'' said Fairclough, whose side will face either Peterborough or Plymouth at home in round four if they overcome Geraint Williams' men.

``The players at this club seem to respond to the competition.``

Colchester captain Karl Duguid has a chance of figuring at Underhill.

The midfielder was left out of the side which would have started on Saturday with a chest injury, but he is training again and will be in contention for at least a spot on the bench.

Richard Garcia and Kevin McLeod will keep their places on the wings should Duguid fail to make the first XI.

Manager Geraint Williams is otherwise sticking with the side which has served him so well in the Championship this season.

Sought-after right-back Greg Halford was named in the original starting line-up despite the fact any potential transfer-window suitors would not want him cup-tied.
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