FA Cup: Thompson happy to keep faith with Heskey

Emile Heskey is set to lead Liverpool’s defence of the FA Cup against Birmingham tomorrow despite a goal drought which is threatening his starting place.

Heskey has scored just once in 26 games for Liverpool and the Reds’ recent signing of Nicolas Anelka has left his spot in jeopardy.

But Liverpool boss Phil Thompson has sprung to the defence of his out-of-sorts striker and has backed him to turn his form around.

Thompson said: ‘‘Emile is a key member of our squad. All the rest of the players appreciate his contribution to the team, even though the goals are not going in at the moment.

‘‘It happens to all strikers. They all go through a spell without scoring. Emile just needs one to go in and more will come. I have no worries on that front.’’

Liverpool know they face a hard test as they hold fresh memories of battling the Blues in the Cup February saw them win a Worthington Cup shoot-out at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

Blues boss Steve Bruce could make a number of changes, with on-loan defender Jeff Kenna ruled out by his club Blackburn, who do not want him cup-tied.

Nicky Eaden or Jerry Gill will step in while Michael Johnson will definitely be in the squad after coming through half-an-hour of the match with Nottingham Forest on New Year’s Day.

Darren Purse and Curtis Woodhouse are back from suspension while Martin Grainger is injured.

Leicester are facing up to a potential FA Cup humiliation to add to their woeful Premiership predicament when they meet Third Division Mansfield Town.

Few at Filbert Street need reminding of last year’s FA Cup nightmare against Wycombe Wanderers - least of all new boss Bassett.

He warned: ‘‘Somewhere along the line there is always a result which makes people sit up, be it Canvey Island at Burnley or Dagenham doing Ipswich or whatever, but we must make sure it isn’t us. We don’t want to end up with egg on our mush.’’

Mansfield boss Billy Dearden names a 17-man squad with a couple of injury worries.

Dearden lamented the long-term absence of key first-team performers Michael Sisson (knee) and Danny Bacon (ankle), but dismissed talk of a possible Cup run adversely affecting Town’s promotion push.

‘‘I don’t go for that,’’ said Dearden. ‘‘As far as I’m concerned, the more competitions you’re in the better. It keeps everyone on their toes.’’

Craig Hignett is desperate to line up for Blackburn against his old side Barnsley in their Oakwell clash.

Hignett is pushing for a starting place at Oakwell and has come off the bench in Blackburn’s last two games.

His chances could be boosted by the fact that Andy Cole is ineligible for the third-round tie because his £7.5m move from Manchester United was not completed in time.

Hignett, who joined Rovers in a £2.25m deal from Barnsley 18 months ago, admits it has been hard watching so much of Blackburn’s season from the sidelines, but he remains upbeat about his prospects.

‘‘It’s disappointing not to be in the starting line-up, but then I have been involved in the past few games and you only have to look at the list of those not included at Spurs to see how hot the competition is for a place,’’ he said.

Like his Rovers counterpart Graeme Souness, Barnsley boss Steve Parkin has few injury concerns.

Midfield man Gary Jones is cup-tied as he has already turned out for Rochdale in the competition but, apart from his long-term absentees, Parkin will have more or less a settled squad to choose from.

Alex Neil would appear to be the logical replacement for Jones, Kevin Dixon should be fit to play despite an in-growing toe nail and former Sheffield United midfielder Mitch Ward (ankle) is also in the running.

Charlton hope to get past Blackpool without a repeat of last season’s wobble which almost saw them bundled out at home by non-league Dagenham and Redbridge.

Midfielder John Robinson has urged the utmost respect for tomorrow’s opponents.

‘‘We have to give Blackpool respect, in the same way as we would against Manchester United,’’ he said. ‘‘People expect us to roll them over by three or four but that will not happen.’’

Scott Parker is suspended for the clash while Graham Stuart faces a late test on a knee knock.

Blackpool boss Steve McMahon is optimistic midfielder Danny Coid (back) and defender Brian Reid (ligaments) will be fit after missing the last three games through injury.

However, striker John Murphy, who has been sidelined with a swollen knee, is unlikely to make the trip.