TEAMtalk

Wigan v Sunderland preview

Monday 02-January-2012 11:15

Wigan will be without captain Gary Caldwell as he serves a one-match suspension.

The defender was shown a straight red card for handling Cameron Jerome's goal-bound header in the 2-2 draw with Stoke on Boxing Day and is likely to be replaced by Steve Gohouri.

Conor Sammon was left on the bench at the Britannia Stadium despite having his red card against Manchester United rescinded and will hope for a recall but Emmerson Boyce (hamstring) will have to wait a little longer.

Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill will make a late decision on Wes Brown ahead of the trip with his injury problems showing little sign of abating.

The former Manchester United defender limped off with a groin problem 26 minutes into Sunday's 1-0 victory over leaders Manchester City and is a major doubt, as are full-back Phil Bardsley (thigh) and centre-half Titus Bramble (Achilles/calf).

Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet played with a face mask protecting the nose and eye-socket he fractured in October with Keiren Westwood having pulled out because of the virus which also sidelined Kieran Richardson and threatened Sebastian Larsson's participation until the last minute. Michael Turner, Connor Wickham, Fraizer Campbell and Craig Gordon (all knee) remain on the sidelines.

Wigan (from): Al Habsi, Alcaraz, Figueroa, Watson, Diame, Moses, Gomez, McCarthy, Di Santo, Jones, Stam, Van Aanholt, McArthur, Lopez, Thomas, Sammon, Maloney, Crusat, Gohouri, Rodallega, Pollitt, Kirkland.

Sunderland (from): Mignolet, Westwood, Carson, Brown, O'Shea, Kilgallon, Laing, Egan, Cattermole, Richardson, Gardner, Vaughan, Larsson, Colback, Elmohamady, McClean, Meyler, Sessegnon, Bendtner, Wickham, Ji, R Noble.