Fulham vs Wigan -- Hodgson looks to change

Posted Sunday, April 04, 2010 by PA

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is likely to make several changes for Sunday's Barclays Premier League game against Wigan at Craven Cottage.

Hodgson will want to rest some of his key players ahead of Thursday's Europa League quarter-final second leg in Wolfsburg, which means Bobby Zamora, Damien Duff and Aaron Hughes could all miss out.

Andrew Johnson and John Pantsil (both knee) are sidelined and Stephen Kelly faces a fitness test after picking up a knock against Tottenham Hotspur.

Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has warned his team-mates that they will have to work hard to pass the all important 40-point barrier with a win over Wigan.

Fulham's 2-1 win over Wolfsburg in midweek was the latest in an extraordinary series of European results which has put the Cottagers within touching distance of the semi-finals of the Europa League.

While recent wins over Shakhtar Donetsk and European heavyweights Juventus represent a remarkable achievement for the small west London club, their domestic form has taken a worrying slump of late.

The Cottagers are 12th in the Barclays Premier League on 38 points after last week's defeat against Hull - their third loss in a row.

They are without a league win since February and take on a Wigan side just four points outside the relegation zone.

Schwarzer believes Roberto Martinez's will provide a stern test at Craven Cottage as Hodgson's men look to guarantee their top flight status with a win.

"Wigan will be very tough for us," said Schwarzer.

"They're in the mix down there so they need the points to get over that infamous 40 point mark and we still need a couple of points to do that as well so it's a big game for us."

Schwarzer believes that Fulham have been unlucky not to take anything from their last three league games, and insists his side are not getting carried away with dreams of European glory.

"I don't think our performances have dropped since Juventus," said the 37-year-old, who reached the UEFA Cup final with Middlesbrough in 2006.

"The results have dropped and we have had drops in concentration in parts of games but generally overall we are pleased with how we have been playing.

"We played well against the German champions on Thursday but we'll take each round as it comes now and for us and Sunday is the priority.

"We can't think about the second leg until we have Wigan out of the way."

Wigan defender Gary Caldwell will miss out as he begins a three-match ban.

Caldwell was sent off in his side's 3-0 defeat at Manchester City on Monday and the club have decided not to appeal.

Goalkeeper Chris Kirkland is back in contention after a virus but midfielder Hendry Thomas is unlikely to feature due to a quad injury.

Defender Emmerson Boyce hopes to prove his fitness after back and groin problems and Charles N'Zogbia came through his return from a hip injury unscathed.

Wigan's forgotten man Steve Gohouri is determined to make up for lost time to keep his World Cup dream alive.

The Ivory Coast defender has endured almost three months of frustration since joining the Latics on a short-term deal in January.

The 29-year-old has been hampered by two separate back injuries and did not make his league debut until appearing as a late substitute in Monday's defeat at Manchester City.

He now hopes to win a regular place and could get an opportunity at Fulham in the absence of Caldwell.

With just six games of the season remaining, Gohouri realises time is running out to impress the two managers that could reshape his life this summer - Martinez and Sven-Goran Eriksson - but will not give up trying.

Gohouri is only with Martinez's Wigan until June after being released by Borussia Monchengladbach, while new Ivory Coast coach Eriksson holds the key to an international recall after African Nations Cup omission.

Gohouri said: "I haven't played as much as I would have liked over the past six months but I have the chance at Wigan to play some football and we will see what happens.

"My first target is to play as many games as I can for Wigan, but my ambition after that is to play for my country at the World Cup.

"That would be a real dream for me - for sure. Every footballer wants to play at the World Cup and I am no different.

"Coming to Wigan is a big step for me. I always wanted to come to play in the Premier League, and I am grateful to Wigan for giving me this chance."