Alan Curbishley may give more of his talented youngsters a run-out at Everton on Saturday while the manager also has the likes of Luis Boa Morte and Carlton Cole back in contention.
Freddie Sears' stunning debut against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday has pushed him firmly into the first-team picture but the manager is also contemplating chances for defender James Tomkins, winger Kyel Reid and midfielder Jack Collison. All three impressed in a midweek reserve-team win against a strong Reading side, as did Boa Morte who was suspended last weekend, and Curbishley is well aware of the positives to be gained by giving youth a chance.
He said: "It has been great for everybody at the club - especially Freddie. I have said for the last couple of weeks that the [young players] have been around us and doing ever so well. In the reserves once again on Tuesday night, a very young side did very well against a really experienced Reading side. All the boys played, except for Freddie. I have said for the last couple of weeks that I want to introduce one or two of them and give them a taste of it.
"The strength of the Premier League squads now is making it more and more difficult for the young player as we all know and there has been a big debate about it recently. Some of these sides take the opportunity in the cup to give their players a go. This year we attacked the cups with our strongest side available because we felt it was competitions we had a chance of doing well in. How do the players get experience and that little bit of a lift. We have got eight games left and I will try if I can to integrate one or two of them and let's see how they shape up."
The manager's hand may also be decided by the fitness of Matthew Upson and Bobby Zamora. The former has missed the last two games with a calf problem while the latter has a problem with blisters that have forced him to sit out this week. "Bobby had really bad blisters from the Spurs game and didn't train all week and had painkilling injections in the area for the game. We have to wait to see where he and Matty Upson are." Cole is in a similar position, having missed out a week ago with a dead leg suffered in training but he could return.
Julien Faubert is definitely not in contention with the manager saying the improving injury situation has allowed the medical staff to take a longer look at him. "We have decided to strip him down and let him get fit and take our time ... hopefully he will come back before the end of the season." Anton Ferdinand "has not had a problem" after a slight groin issue before the Blackburn game while Jonathan Spector will get back late from an international in the United States but is "desperate to play".