Fitness boost ahead of Wednesday

Some positive fitness news ahead of the Carling Cup semi-final first leg, with Roberto Mancini confirming:

"I think that Micah will be available to play, he had a groin problem but it has not been too serious. Robinho is fine as well and has been back in training. De Jong is OK again after we took him off on Saturday with a calf problem."

I'm no sure that Robinho will come into the equation, but de Jong and Richards would be big losses if they don't make it - particularly so Richards, with Mancini forced into using rookie defender Dedryck Boyata alongside Vincent Kompany should Richards be ruled out.

There may even be a chance that Shaun Wright-Phillips and/or Roque Santa-Cruz also make it:

"We will see how Shaun is today for the first time, but it's possible that he will be available as well," he declared. "We are not certain on Roque, we will have to decide after taking a look at him today but we do not want to take a risk on him.

Expect some very last minute decisions on one or two players.