by Michael Baggaley
michael.baggaley@thesentinel.co.uk

BETWEEN THE STICKS

CHRIS KIRKLAND
Clocked up a century of Wigan appearances in November following his move from Liverpool in 2006.
Has just one England cap, earned against Greece four years ago. However, at 28, and with no obvious successor to David James, he is young enough to force his way back into the international scene. Just needs to get over long-running injury jinx.

AT THE BACK

EMMERSON BOYCE
Literally made an impression on Stoke’s Thomas Sorensen in December – by landing on top of the keeper after bundling the ball home for a back-post goal.
Boyce is usually a centre-back, but the 30-year-old former Luton and Crystal Palace defender is playing well enough at right-back to keep fit-again Mario Melchiot out of the side.

TITUS BRAMBLE
The 28-year-old former England under-21 central defender was signed on a free transfer from Newcastle in the summer of 2007.
He became well known for his high-profile clangers during his time on Tyneside, but has since rebuilt his career with the Latics.

GARY CALDWELL
The 27-year-old Scotland international signed for Wigan from Celtic in January, having seemed destined to link up with his former Hoops boss Gordon Strachan at Middlesbrough.
The centre-back played more than 100 games for Celtic after he was signed by Strachan from Hibernian.

MAYNOR FIGUEROA
Scorer of the goal of the season at the Britannia when he pinged a 60-yard free-kick past a gob-smacked Thomas Sorensen.
The left-back was wanted by his former boss Steve Bruce at Sunderland during the transfer window, but Wigan were determined to hold on to the skilful, attacking defender.

IN THE MIDDLE

CHARLES N’ZOGBIA
The winger cost Wigan a hefty £6m last season after falling out with his Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear.
Has pace to burn and plenty of talent, so will be the chief threat to Stoke’s hopes of a third successive clean sheet.

MOHAMED DIAME
Roberto Martinez used his Spanish contacts to sign the rangy midfielder from Rayo Vallecano in the summer.
Diame is a ball-winning midfielder, but showed he knows where the goal is when bulleted home a ferocious strike in the 1-1 draw at Sunderland on Saturday.

HENDRY THOMAS
The 25-year-old defensive midfielder joined Wigan in the summer from Honduras. He signed from Club Olimpia, the same side from which Wigan also recruited Wilson Palacios and Maynor Figueroa.

JAMES McCARTHY
The 19-year-old Republic of Ireland under-21 international signed from Hamilton Academical in the summer. He was given his first start by Martinez in January and has been tipped to become “a big star in world football” by the boss.

PAUL SCHARNER
Had a decent game at the Britannia in December where his performance was almost as striking as his bleached blond hair. The 29-year-old Austria international can play in central defence, but is set to be used “in the hole” behind lone striker Hugo Rodallega tonight.

UP FRONT

HUGO RODALLEGA
Linked with a £10m move to Stoke during the January transfer window, but remains at Wigan and needs to arrest a slump in form.
The 25-year-old Colombian striker has only scored once in 12 games. It would have been twice, but his late penalty at the Britannia was saved by Thomas Sorensen.

ON THE BENCH

VLADIMIR STOJKOVIC
The 26-year-old keeper is a Serbia international who is on loan for the rest of the season after signing from Sporting Lisbon in January.

MARIO MELCHIOT
The 33-year-old former Netherlands international lost his place last month after sustaining a neck problem. The former Chelsea and Birmingham defender is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench tonight.

JORDI GOMEZ
The midfielder impressed for Roberto Martinez at Swansea last season before following the manager to Wigan. The 24-year-old started his career at Barcelona.

JASON SCOTLAND
Another former Swansea player brought to Wigan by former boss Martinez.
The 30-year-old Trinidad and Tobago striker smashed 45 league goals in 90 appearances for the Swans, but has not scored in the Premier League in 20 games for Wigan.

VICTOR MOSES
The 19-year-old forward cost £2.5m from Crystal Palace last month as part of the Selhurst Park administrators’ efforts to make ends meet. Moses can play on either flank or as a striker, and was also wanted by West Brom, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.

BEN WATSON
Another former Crystal Palace player. The 24-year-old midfielder was signed from the Eagles for £2m in January 2009.
He spent the first half of this season on loan at QPR, where he managed to get sent off in consecutive appearances.

MARCELO MORENO
The 22-year-old Bolivia striker signed last week on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk. Made his debut on Saturday, when he came on for the last 15 minutes at Sunderland.