Wigan Athletic vs Blackpool preview - Maloney hope for Latics

Posted Friday, August 22, 2014 by PA

Wigan will hope winger Shaun Maloney can overcome illness in time for Blackpool's visit to the DW Stadium.

The winger was not in the squad for the trip to Cardiff on Tuesday, which saw Latics lose their third game in eight days with Uwe Rosler's men yet to taste victory this season.

Midfielder Chris McCann (knee) is doing some light training and Rosler hopes to have him involved in a reserve match before the end of August.

Ben Watson (broken leg) is further behind in his recovery, though, while the likes of striker Martyn Waghorn will certainly come into consideration if Rosler decides to shake things up.

A fifth game in 15 days will further stretch Blackpool's depleted numbers to the maximum.

Midfield pair Jacob Mellis and Andrea Orlandi were lacking enough fitness to make the squad for Tuesday's defeat to Brentford, the latter having also missed the previous Saturday's loss to Bournemouth.

Jose Riga is short in that department anyway given Costa Rican Jose Cubero has still not received international clearance to play. Central defender Gary MacKenzie, midfielder Tom Barkhuizen and striker Bobby Grant are yet to feature this season because of knee injuries.

The Seasiders have won just one of their previous 13 contests, which was at Wigan last April.