Man United are currently third in the table, three points behind leaders Chelsea and one point behind Arsenal. Chelsea are away to Birmingham in a 3 o’clock kick off and Arsenal play Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates in the early kick off.
Wigan are just above the relegation zone in 17th position. They have suffered heavy losses to both Blackpool and Chelsea this season. In 13 League games they have won three times, drawn five times and they have also lost five times.
Wayne Rooney may make his first appearance since signing a new five-year contract with Man United after suffering from an ankle injury. Rooney has not played since the 16th October when he came on as a substitute in the 2-2 draw with West Brom.
Both Rio Ferdinand and Chris Smalling were both away with the England International squad during the week; both picked up injuries and are rated as doubtful. Ryan Giggs is also doubtful as he’s still trying from a hamstring strain, so is Rafael da Silva who is recovering from a dead leg. United will have Paul Scholes back after he served a one-match suspension.
Antonio Valencia, Owen Hargreaves and Michael Owen are definitely all out injured.
Wigan are without the injured Gary Caldwell who is missing with a thigh problem, Mike Pollitt who has an elbow problem and James McCarthy who has an ankle injury. Emmerson Boyce also won’t feature; he is out with a muscle problem.
Tom Cleverley is on loan from parent club Man United, so he is ineligible to play.
Both clubs have only played each other 11 times, the first was back on the 14th December 2005, Man United won the game 4-0 at Old Trafford. Wigan have never won or even drawn a game against United.
Referee tomorrow is Martin Atkinson. This season he has officiated one game involving Man United, which was the 3-3 draw with Everton in the League. Atkinson hasn’t refereed any games involving Wigan this season.
So far this season he has been in charge of 12 games, he has shown a total of 44 yellow cards and five reds.
