Wigan waiting on fitness of duo ahead of Leeds clash

Posted Thursday, November 01, 2018 by PA

Wigan are sweating on the fitness of Nick Powell and Gary Roberts ahead of Sunday’s Sky Bet Championship clash with Leeds.

Star man Powell is being assessed having been forced off following a heavy challenge in the second half of last weekend’s 4-2 loss at Sheffield United.

Roberts is another being monitored on a day-to-day basis after sustaining a hamstring complaint in the first half at Bramall Lane – a match Lee Evans was unable to feature in due to the terms of his loan deal.

The midfielder is back in contention this weekend, as is Darron Gibson after serving a three-match ban. Will Grigg, Gavin Massey and Michael Jacobs remain absent.

Leeds will be without defender Luke Ayling for Sunday’s match – and the next two months.

The 27-year-old was replaced 25 minutes into last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest with what the club this week confirmed as medial collateral ligament damage in his right knee.

Fellow defender Barry Douglas stepped up his return from a hamstring issue by for Leeds’ Under-23 team against Hull on Monday, but Gaetano Berardi looks set for a spell on the sidelines.

Patrick Bamford and Izzy Brown remain long-term absentees for Marcelo Bielsa’s men.