Aston Villa midfielder James Milner has been ruled out of tonight's FA Cup fifth round replay against Manchester City because of a stomach virus.
Milner had hoped to be available to face Stuart Pearce's side but he will again be absent after undergoing tests.
Villa manager David O'Leary said yesterday striker Luke Moore would continue to deputise on the right flank as opposed to Lee Hendrie.
Stuart Pearce will take a late check on Sylvain Distin ahead of Manchester City's FA Cup fifth-round replay against Aston Villa today.
The Blues skipper missed Saturday's defeat at Portsmouth with a groin injury but Pearce is hopeful of having the Frenchman back in his as City look to book a quarter-final clash with either West Ham or Bolton.
Trevor Sinclair (concussion) and Joey Barton (ankle) are both expected to be fit despite minor problems.
Provisional Man City squad: James, Weaver, Sun Jihai, Mills, Richards, Dunne, Distin, Thatcher, Jordan, Croft, Sinclair, Reyna, Barton, Ireland, Musampa, Riera, Samaras, Vassell, Wright-Phillips.
Aston Villa team: Sorensen, Hughes, Mellberg, Ridgewell, Bouma, Moore, Moore, McCann, Davis, Barry, Phillips, Baros, Angel, Taylor, Samuel, Hendrie, De la Cruz, Whittingham, Berger.
