Steve Bruce’s Wigan Athletic will entertain Gareth Southgate’s Middlesbrough in the Premiership encounter at the JJB Stadium on Saturday.

The Latics, who are placed 10th, have struck a good run of form after early defeats, while 16th-placed Boro have been inconsistent following a promising start and have fallen to three successive league defeats.

Wigan’s summer-import Amr Zaki has been very impressive and is a key player in the six-match unbeaten run for Steve Bruce’s men. The Egypt international is leading the league goal-scorers’ list with five league goals in six games following his winning penalty against Manchester City last weekend.

Overall, the Latics possess a host of attacking talent with Wilson Palacios and Valencia in particular, showing their class. One injury worry for Bruce though, is midfielder Lee Cattermole, who was taken off against City on Sunday with a hamstring injury.

On the other hand, Boro have a lot of injury problems and as such the Teessiders could be without some of their key players for tomorrow’s game.

Full-back Andrew Taylor (hip), defender Robert Huth (ankle) and Gary O'Neil (illness) are the worries for Southgate.

Boro are also without skipper Emanuel Pogatetz, who is serving the second game of a three-match suspension following his red card against Manchester United in the Carling Cup loss, Tuncay Sanli (knee) and Julio Arca (ankle).

Teams:

Wigan (from): Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa, Valencia, Cattermole, Palacios, Kapo, Heskey, Zaki, Brown, Camara, De Ridder, Kilbane, Koumas, Kupisz, Scharner, Taylor, Pollitt, Kingson.

Middlesbrough (from): Turnbull, Jones, Hoyte, Wheater, Huth, Riggott, Taylor, Grounds, Digard, O'Neil, Aliadiere, Downing, Johnson, Shawky, Alves, Mido, Walker, Emnes, Craddock.