New Middlesbrough FC signing, John Obi Mikel is inline to make his debut for the club in an FA Cup fourth round clash with Newport County at the Riverside Stadium today (Saturday) reports Completesports.com.
Boro officially unveiled the former Chelsea midfielder as their latest signing for the January transfer window on Thursday.
The 31-year-old arrives on Teeside as a free agent after leaving Tianjin Teda at the end of the Chinese Super League season in November.
He rose to prominence during an 11-year stint with Chelsea, winning two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and the Champions League in 2012.
Should Mikel feature for Boro against Newport, it would be his 32nd FA Cup game, having played 31 of such matches for Chelsea where he scored thrice.
Elsewhere, Super Eagles centre-back, Leon Balogun is likely to make his second appearance in the competition for Brighton & Hove Albion against West Bromwich Albion also today as manager, Chris Hughton insists making extensive changes to his team.
Balogun has so far featured in nine games across all competitions for the Seagulls this season, eight Premier League matches scoring once and bagging two yellow cards.
Brighton, FA Cup finalists in 1983 reached the quarter-finals last season.
Another Nigerian star, Isaac Success will play his fourth FA Cup game ever should he be fielded in Watford’s encounter with fellow Premier League side, Newcastle United at St James Park.
Success starred when the Hornets defeated Woking in the third round last month and this season, the 23-year-old has made 25 appearances in all competitions with three goals to his name.
