Mark Fotheringham has been praised for the way he has handled supporters' criticism of his performances. The City midfielder had been due to return to the starting line-up at Charlton this afternoon until he came off second best in a training ground tackle with Matty Pattison.

Mark Fotheringham has been praised for the way he has handled supporters' criticism of his performances.

The City midfielder had been due to return to the starting line-up at Charlton this afternoon until he came off second best in a training ground tackle with Matty Pattison.

Fotheringham has asked to travel with the squad, leaving Glenn Roeder, who had planned to team him up with Sammy Clingan in the middle, singing his praises.

“I get a bit disappointed with the reaction of our supporters to him,” said the City manager.

“If only they knew how much cared. He has poor games like the others have poor games. When others have poor games they don't get the criticism he gets.

“He's a real club man. He came in and said, 'I'm struggling, I don't think I can make this, but can I come? I want to be there when we win'.

“There aren't many of them do that in the modern game - many players would be more than happy to stay at home at the weekend.

“He's a very good human being and of late with those little bits of time he's had on the pitch I think he's coming back to some form. He would have played, him and Sammy would have played together. I have been pleased with the attitude he has shown under personal pressure.”

Roeder's original plan would have meant a move for Pattison - either to one of the flanks to replace either David Bell or Lee Croft, or to the bench. Darel Russell is the only other midfield, but looks set to partner Antoine Sibierski in attack, Roeder confirming the Frenchman would start for the first time since the home defeat by Crystal Palace on November 25.

“Sibierksi will play - he did so well when he came on the other day (against Forest),” said Roeder. “He looked fresh. We'll play with two strikers for sure.”

The other option up front is out-of-favour Arturo Lupoli, with Roeder not tempted to recall Jamie Cureton from his loan spell at Barnsley, where he has scored in the last two games but is ineligible in the cup trip to West Ham today.

“No - he can stay there for three months and see what happens after,” he said.

On-loan Omar Koroma is out, having picked up an ankle injury in a behind-closed-doors game.

“He's out for 10 weeks,” Roeder revealed. “He had an operation. It's not serious - it sounds serious because of the length of time, but it's because he's young. If he was an older player we might push him back in after six weeks, but it could be 10, 12 weeks. He's back at Portsmouth having rehab.”

Youngsters Tom Adeyemi, Korey Smith and Damon Lathrope will all travel, with at least one in the squad, while there will be a place on the coach for teenage keeper Declan Rudd.