BETWEEN THE STICKS
Richard Kingson: The agile Ghana international has been something of a bridesmaid behind
Chris Kirkland and Mike Pollitt, but an injury to Kirkland last week has left him appearing in Wigan’s last two fixtures.
Brought to England by Steve Bruce when at Birmingham, the 30-year-old followed his old manager to the north west last summer.

AT THE BACK
Mario Melchiot: Said to have fallen out with Steve Bruce at Birmingham, so must have thought his days were numbered when Bruce later followed him to Wigan.
But the 32-year-old former Dutch international has proved a powerful and inspiring presence in Wigan’s back four.

Emerson Boyce: Bought for £1m from Crystal Palace three years ago, he has clocked up 25 appearances this term to swell his total tally for the club to 91.
Bounced back from a November dismissal at Newcastle to remain one of his team’s more consistent performers at the back.

Titus Bramble: Played more like Wilfred Bramble when he was at Newcastle – and still prone to the odd rush of blood to the head.
But generally regarded as a more mature and thoughtful player these days – only eight yellows and no reds this term – while his strength and bravery have never been questioned.

Maynor Figueroa: Capped nearly 50 times by Honduras and celebrated his 26th birthday earlier this month.
Signed initially on loan from Deportivo La Coruna for two spells at the end of last season and the beginning of this campaign, he eventually made a full-time switch to deepest Lancashire in December.

IN THE MIDDLE
Luis Antonia Valencia: Another successful South American import, but one hotly tipped for bigger and better things as the likes of Manchester United are believed to be sniffing around.
The 23-year-old Ecuador international also cut his teeth in Spain, with Villareal, before flying to England and figuring in 78 Premier League games in two loan spells before a permanent move.

Paul Scharner: Tough and uncompromising Austria international. He was switched from central defence to central midfield for the midweek defeat at the hands of Manchester United.
Tomorrow marks his 100th Premier League start since a £2m move from Norwegian outfit Brann in January 2006.

Michael Brown: Like Scharner, not one to take too many prisoners with his tigerish work-rate and snappy tackling. Now 32, he shot to prominence at Manchester City before subsequent spells at the likes of Sheffield United, Tottenham and Fulham before moving north to Wigan two years ago.

Charles N’Zogbia: Left Newcastle under a cloud after a slight disagreement with Joe Kinnear, but Wigan happily snapped up that tasty left foot and dribbling ability for £6m at the end of the January transfer window.
The talented Frenchman has featured prominently ever since for the Latics and added some genuine quality in the process.

Lee Cattermole: A busy bee in midfield and loves to get stuck into the opposition.
Still only 21, his £3.5m move from Middlesbrough last summer might be one of the reasons Boro are going down the plug hole.

UP FRONT
Hugo Rodallega: The 23-year-old Columbian is another testament to the club’s Central and South American scouting network.
Signed in January and went first 11 appearances without scoring, but has bagged a goal in each of the last two games against West Brom and Manchester United.

ON THE BENCH
Mike Pollitt: Wigan’s reserve keeper started as a trainee at Old Trafford and has been contracted in some form or another with no fewer than 14 clubs since.
A £200,000 buy from Rotherham in June 2005, opportunities have been so limited that he has made only 31 appearances in those three subsequent years.

Erik Edman: The 30-year-old Swedish international defender has just six Premier League games to his name since joining in January last year.

Ben Watson: Made his name at Crystal Palace before the 23-year-old made a £2m move north in January, scoring twice in nine Premier League appearances to date.

Jason Koumas: Enigmatic Wales international capable of anything on his day, especially from set-pieces, but far too inconsistent for his critics’ liking.

Daniel De Ridder: The 24-year-old Dutchman followed Bruce from Birmingham last summer, but 13 of his 17 league appearances have been from the bench.

Mido: Rather roly-poly figure in his latter days at Middlesbrough, the popular Egypt international has bagged two in 11 since joining on loan.

Olivier Kapo: Another ex-Brummie, he made a £3.5m switch last summer and has figured in just about half of Wigan’s Premier League commitments.