Wigan Athletic v Chelsea Preview

By Alan G
December 22 2006

Henri Camara is out for the visit of Chelsea with knee ligament damage, ruling him out for a total of six weeks.

Lee McCulloch starts the first of his three-game ban for his moronic punch on Sheffield United’s Chris Morgan, meaning the forward line-up is a toss between Emile Heskey, David Cotterill and Svetoslav Todorov.

 

Gary Teale, Paul Scharner, Ryan Taylor, Antonio Valencia and Steve McMillan are all still out.

 

For Chelsea, captain John Terry is a doubt after the recurrence of his back injury and Khalid Boulahrouz is on stand-by.

 

The club's only other major concern is over goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini who has a muscle injury. Joe Cole is still out.

 

Latics (from): Kirkland, Jackson, Hall, Kilbane, Cywka, Johansson, Landzaat, Heskey, Boyce, Cotterill, Skoko, Baines, De Zeeuw, Wright, Webster, Todorov, Teale, Pollitt.

Chelsea (from): Hilario, Hedman, Cudicini, Geremi, Carvalho, Terry, Boulahrouz, Ferreira, A Cole, Bridge, Lampard, Essien, Makelele, Ballack, Drogba, Shevchenko, Robben, Wright-Phillips, Diarra, Mikel, Kalou.

 

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

 

Paul Jewell:

 

"The fact we're playing Chelsea in front of a full house and on television should get the players fired up.

 

"We have to try and finish the year on a high note and although we face a tough end, we'll give it our best shot."