The goalkeeper has missed the last two games due to sciatica in his lower back and was doubtful for the trip to the KC Stadium.

But Kirkland came through training unscathed yesterday and will get the green light to play if there was no reaction after today's session.

Medical staff will be closely monitoring him right up to kick-off time though, after his late pull-out against Chelsea last Sunday.

Latics boss Bruce told the Evening Post: "We think Kirkland is going to be okay. We are confident and comfortable with his situation.
"He had a back spasm when we were training in Austria a few weeks ago – the muscles tightened and stiffened up.

"We don't think it's anything too serious, hopefully with a bit of TLC he will be fine.

"He is as good a goalkeeper as there is in the Premier League. He proved that to me in the six months I worked with him last season.
"What I think is going to have to happen is us going down the route of monitoring him a little bit more.

"Kirky is a workaholic. He would train from seven in the morning until midnight if you allowed him to.
"We will have to pull in the reins a little bit, and have a training schedule mapped out for him to make sure he doesn't damage those big levers he has."

Kirkland should be joined on the team bus heading to Humberside by another recent casualty, Jason Koumas.

The Wales international lasted only the first half against Chelsea before withdrawing with an ankle injury, and he sat out the Carling Cup win over Notts County.

He trained yesterday and will challenge Olivier Kapo and Kevin Kilbane for a starting berth on the left-wing.

But Paul Scharner misses out with a twisted ankle first suffered in pre-season and then aggravated on international duty with Austria.

The centre-half is close to being fit, with the Sunderland game in a fortnight a more realistic comeback date.

Antoine Sibierski has been added to the casualty list having taken a knock on the foot in training.

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