Wigan Athletic face a key away test against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday night, with their League One survival hopes hanging in the balance. The Latics, rooted to the bottom of the league table with just seven points from 11 games, are in desperate need of a result to lift morale after a winless weekend.
Manager Gary Caldwell has a full squad to select from, with Morgan Fox having returned from a month-long absence to start the last two matches against Oxford United and Huddersfield Town. The centre-back's availability provides a welcome boost to a defence that has conceded 17 goals this season. Christian Saydee, also back from injury, has scored in consecutive games, including a late consolation in the 2-1 defeat to Huddersfield.
Wigan will be without Fraser Murray due to suspension, while Luke Harris and Max Power remain sidelined with injuries. The confirmed starting lineup sees Owen Whitworth in goal behind a back four of Sean Barrett, Charlie Chilokoa-Mullen, Charlie Burns and Tom Carragher. The midfield trio is expected to be Callum Miller, Charlie Weir and Reggie Walsh, with Zach Costelloe, Theo Burrowes and Callum Hogan leading the attack.
Substitutes include J.Walsh, Fox, Jon Mellish, Stephen Higgins, Sam Greenhalgh, Jensen Sze and the in-form Saydee. Caldwell's side have lost four of their last five matches and have taken only one point from a possible 18 on their travels, a record that must improve quickly. Their recent form reads LLWLL, with the most recent result a 3-0 loss to this same Leicester side just days ago, where Emil Riis Jakobsen scored twice.
Leicester City, sitting 13th with 15 points, have their own problems but represent a formidable obstacle. They are without midfielder John Lundstram due to suspension and have Jayden Joseph injured, but see key players like Conor Chaplin and Will Smallbone back from knocks. Their predicted lineup includes Alex McCarthy, Warren O’Hora, Harry Souttar, Caleb Okoli, Pedro Alves, Louis Page, Smallbone, Luke Thomas, captain Chaplin, Tommy Doyle and Riis.
The Foxes dropped points in a draw with Luton Town last time out and manager Enzo Maresca may be considering changes after some players were substituted at half-time in that match. For Wigan, the task is clear: find a way to stop the rot. They are 18 points behind league leaders Huddersfield and every match now carries huge significance.
Caldwell reflected on the recent Huddersfield loss, saying, "We could have got more from the game." That sentiment must now translate into points on the board. The immediate focus is this trip to the East Midlands, but attention will quickly turn to a vital home fixture against 22nd-placed Bromley on Saturday. The match at the King Power Stadium kicks off at 7:45 PM GMT.
Read the full report at Last Word On Sports
