"Michael himself said yesterday he will probably not make the Chelsea game," said manager Glenn Roeder said. "He is just not quite fully fit at the moment."

Asked if Owen will make the game at Reading a week on Monday, Roeder replied: "That will be the next game and with the game being on a Monday night, it gives him an extra couple of days.

"Both Michael and Shola (Ameobi) will just keep working towards the next game until they are absolutely fully fit to return to Premiership action."

Irish goalkeeper Shay Given is still missing with his groin injury but Kieron Dyer (hamstring), Scott Parker (ankle) and Antoine Sibierski (knee) could all return.

However, Irish winger Damien Duff will miss the rest of the season with the ankle injury he sustained at Portsmouth last Saturday.

Provisional squad: Harper, Srnicek, Solano, Carr, Babayaro, Taylor, Bramble, Onyewu, Moore, Ramage, Butt, Parker, Milner, Emre, Dyer, N'Zogbia, Martins, Sibierski, Luque, Carroll, LuaLua.