FORM GUIDE
Manchester United:
19th August vs. Burnley (A) lost 1-0 (Prem)
15th August vs. Birmingham City (H) won 1-0 (Prem)
9th August vs. Chelsea (N) lost 4-1 (Pens) drew 2-2 (FT) (Charity
Shield)
5th August vs. Valencia (H) won 2-0 (Friendly)
30th July vs. Bayern Munich (A) lost 7-6 (Pens) drew 0-0 (FT)
(Friendly)
Wigan Athletic:
18th August vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) lost 1-0 (Prem)
15th August vs. Aston Villa (A) won 2-0 (Prem)
11th August vs. Leigh Genesis (A) won 2-1 (Friendly)
28th July vs. Preston North End (A) won 4-1 (Friendly)
16th July vs. Crewe Alexandra (A) lost 1-0 (Friendly)
TEAM NEWS
Manchester United
Serbian colossus Nemanja Vidic is expected to make his first start
of the season. Gary Neville could follow his first team return at
Burnley with another appearance.
Long term absentees Edwin Van Der Sar (hand), Owen Hargreaves
(knee), Rafael (discloated shoulder) and Gabriel Obertan
(unspecified) all remained sidelined.
Last starting XI (vs. Burnley): Foster, O'Shea, Evans,
Brown (Neville 71), Evra, Park, Anderson (Valencia 59), Carrick,
Giggs, Owen (Berbatov 63), Rooney.
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Scholes, Gibson, De Laet.
Squad: Foster, Kuszczak, O'Shea, Neville, Brown, Evans,
Vidic, Evra, Fabio, Valencia, Park, Fletcher, Anderson, Giggs,
Scholes, Carrick, Gibson, Nani, Rooney, Berbatov, Owen, Macheda,
Welbeck.
Possible starting XI: Foster, Evra, Evans, Vidic, Brown,
Giggs, Anderson, Carrick, Valencia, Rooney, Berbatov.
Wigan Athletic
A knock to flying winger Charles N'Zogbia (ankle)
has placed his participation in doubt.
If he fails to pass a late fitnes test he will join fellow
Frenchman Olivier Kapo (knee) in the DW stands.
Last starting XI (vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers): Kirkland,
Melchiot, Scharner, Bramble, Figueroa, Brown (Scotland 60), Thomas,
N'Zogbia, Gomez, Koumas (Sinclair 60), Rodallega.
Subs not used: Edman, Watson, Pollitt, Boyce, King.
Squad: Kirkland, Pollitt,
Melchiot, Figueroa, Edman, Boyce, Bramble, Scharner,
Thomas, Brown, N'Zogbia, Koumas, Watson, Cho,
Gomez, McCarthy, Sinclair, Scotland,
King, Rodallega.
Possible starting XI: Kirkland, Figueroa, Bramble,
Scharner, Melchiot, Gomez, Thomas, Brown, Watson, Koumas,
Rodallega.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester United: Michael Owen has mastered the art of
looking unflappable but the pressure to get his name on the score
sheet is boiling up around him. The England man was found wanting
in front of goal at Turf Moor. For the sake of his new club’s
title-winning ambitions, he must re-discover the touch that made
him one of Europe’s most feared strikers.
Wigan Athletic: Even in defeat, Jason
Koumas impressed against Wolves. With a manager behind him
whose ethos about the game is a perfect match, he is finally
starting to deliver on the promise shown as a youngster at Tranmere
Rovers. The Welsh international will be expected to pull the
strings against the visiting champions and lay on the chances for
Hugo Rodallega.
PREDICTION
Roberto Martinez’s desire to play the ball is admirable but against
the wounded Red Devils there will be a sting in the tail for the
artisans.
The ball isn’t rippling the back of the net yet for Sir Alex
Ferguson’s team, but a wide open game will lead to a turn around on
the weekend.
Wigan Athletic 1-3 Manchester United
