The Latics
welcome the Champions Manchester City to the DW Stadium in Wednesday night’s
televised game, as they go in search of back to back home wins for the first time this season.
Roberto Martinez
must deal with an injury crisis as he prepares to do battle against Roberto Mancini’s
unbeaten team. Shaun Maloney and captain Gary Caldwell face late fitness tests ahead of the game, with stand in skipper Ivan Ramis also struggling with a hamstring injury which forced him during their last gasp win against Reading .
Jordi Gomez |
Better news
for Martinez is that he is likely to be able to
call upon James McArthur and Franco Di Santo, who both featured off the bench
on Saturday. Midfielders Albert Crusat
and Ben Watson miss out, while winger Ryo Miyaichi and defender Antolin Alcaraz
remain on the sidelines.
The Latics
will be keen to avenge last season’s 1-0 defeat at home to City and will also
look to bring an end to a run of five consecutive defeats against the blue half
of Manchester .
Vincent Kompany |
As for the
visitors despite still being unbeaten Mancini will not be happy with his side,
knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage for the second
consecutive season, many believe nothing but a second title will ensure he
holds onto his job.
French international Gael Clichy remains on the injury list having
missed the last two matches with an ankle problem. Captain Vincent Kompany felt
no ill effects after his 90-minute performance against Chelsea on Sunday.
Midfielder
Jack Rodwell is making progress but not ready to feature, while right-back
Micah Richards remains out.
Joleon
Lescott is fit again after injury, but the England international is not
expecting to replace Matija Nastasic in the starting XI.
Despite the difficulty of the task ahead of the Latics they
will be confident of once again upsetting the odds, and will only need to look
back to when they beat the then current Champions Manchester United at the DW
Stadium.
Home form needs to be more consistent if they are to avoid
another battle to avoid the drop, and a third win of the season in front of
their own fans would be very welcome.