Kirky worry for Latics
Latics are sweating on the fitness of keeper Chris Kirkland ahead of Sunday's home clash with Spurs.
The England ace has missed the last two games with a groin injury and Steve Bruce admits a decision on his fitness for Tottenham's visit will go down to the wire.
He has Mike Pollitt and Richard Kingson on stand-by, with Pollitt likely to get the nod if Kirkland is ruled out again.
Bruce has played both back-up keepers in Kirkland's absence – Pollitt in the 1-0 win at Bolton while Kingson was handed his debut at Spurs in last Friday's FA Cup defeat.
Who plays between the sticks is the Latics manager's biggest selection poser in the run-up to the weekend.
All his outfield injury problems seem to be clearing up, with Emile Heskey and Amr Zaki returning to training this week.
Bruce told the Evening Post: "The biggest doubt for Spurs is still Kirky.
"He was injured before the Bolton game and it's a case of wait-and-see with him. It will probably be an on-going issue until the end of the week.
"The injury shows why you need to carry three goalkeepers in the Premier League – you need sufficient cover. We've got two good back-up keepers in Pollitt and Kingson.
"Polly has been round the block and is very experienced, while I played Kingson at Spurs in the FA Cup because he needed a game.
"I thought Kingson did exceptionally well, but unfortunately he made the wrong decision which led to the penalty for the first goal. But I have been pleased with him since he came here."
Kirkland was injured in the warm-up before the Bolton game, meaning a late call-up for Pollitt, who responded with an impressive performance against his home-town club.
He has been managing a back problem since pre-season, with this latest groin injury thought to be related to it although not as serious.
Elsewhere on the casualty front, Bruce has been relieved to see the majority of his squad back on the training pitch this week.
Injury and suspension robbed him of a number of first-team regulars against Spurs, and he thinks Latics will be much stronger for this weekend's return meeting in the league.
Said Bruce: "Heskey, Zaki and Mario Melchiot are all back training, and Ryan Taylor should be okay too after a bit of a hamstring problem.
"Lee Cattermole is available after suspension while Paul Scharner came off with an Achilles problem at Spurs but will be all right for Sunday.
"Our squad isn't the biggest in the league, and while I'm delighted with the quality we have got, we are left a bit threadbare when we get four or five injuries.
"That said, injuries open up the chance for someone else, and I thought Tomasz Cywka did well when he came on as a substitute last week.
"We've have a lot more artillery available when we play Spurs this time, so we'll be a different proposition than we were in the FA Cup."
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Weather for Wigan
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -6 C to 4 C
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