Cardiff manager Dave Jones has given Robbie Fowler until Thursday to prove he is fit to face Portsmouth in the FA Cup final.A hip problem, which required surgery in the United States, has prevented the 33-year-old from playing in 2008, although the striker is now tantalisingly close to a return to action.

Jones has already ruled out the possibility of the 2001 winner being named in Saturday's starting XI, however he confirmed the former Liverpool forward is still in with a chance of being among the substitutes.

"Robbie will be in the squad, definitely," Jones said. "Whether we feel he will be up to playing is another thing. He's still got three or four days yet to prove that."

Asked if Fowler had a deadline to make the cut, he replied: "Thursday. He is not going to start but he is fighting for a bench place along with six or seven others.

"I'll please 11 people once I give my team out and I might make five reasonably happy when they sit on the bench. But for the four who won't be (involved) it's going to be hard for them."

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