City check on Distin

Stuart Pearce will take a late check on Sylvain Distin ahead of Manchester City’s FA Cup fifth-round replay against Aston Villa tomorrow.

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 squad: James, Weaver, Sun Jihai, Mills, Richards, Dunne, Distin, Thatcher, Jordan, Croft, Sinclair, Reyna, Barton, Ireland, Musampa, Riera, Samaras, Vassell, Wright-Phillips.