Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hopes Cesc Fabregas will be fit to face Barcelona in the Champions League next Tuesday.
Fabregas has sat out the past couple of games, including the Carling Cup final defeat to Birmingham, with a hamstring problem sustained against Stoke.
He said in his programme notes for the FA Cup fifth-round replay against Leyton Orient that he hoped to return in Saturday's Premier League match at home to the Black Cats.
However, Wenger has now quashed such speculation and insisted his focus is on getting the Spaniard ready for the trip to Camp Nou.
"I personally hope he will be fit next Tuesday," Wenger said after watching his side thrash Orient on Wednesday 5-0 to set up an FA Cup quarter-final at Manchester United.
