Wigan v Sunderland preview

Bruce: Returns to former club

PREDICTIONS:

Skysports.com prediction: Wigan 1 Sunderland 1

SKYBET odds: Wigan 11/8, draw 9/4, Sunderland 2/1

One to watch: Asamoah Gyan

Bet on the match

OPTA - MATCH FACTS

Sunderland have won just one of their last 19 Premier League away matches - Sunderland to win the match 2/1 - BET NOW

There have been 19 goals scored in the last four Premier League games played at the DW Stadium and at least four in each of those matches - Exactly 4 goals in the match 11/2 - BET NOW

Wigan's last four Premier League wins have all been by a one-goal margin - Wigan to win the match 1-0 7/2 - BET NOW


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Steve Bruce returns to his former club Wigan on Saturday as Sunderland travel to the DW Stadium in the Premier League.

Bruce made the switch to the Stadium of Light in June 2009 after two years in charge of the Latics.

The Black Cats boss guided Wigan to an 11th-placed finish during the 2008/09 campaign, an accomplishment which if matched by Roberto Martinez this term would be viewed as a real achievement.

Martinez seemed to already be under pressure after his side were thrashed in their opening two games this season - 4-0 to top-flight new-boys Blackpool and 6-0 to champions Chelsea.

However, they bounced back with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph away at Tottenham last time out, with a performance full of fighting spirit after their opening defeats.

If they are going to rid themselves of the inconsistency tag that has dogged them since Martinez's time at the helm, though, it is results against sides of the likes of Sunderland on which they will be judged.

Victory this weekend would see Wigan leapfrog the Black Cats in the table, but their opponents come into the game on the back of a win against big-spending Manchester City and will prove tough to beat.

Team news

It will be a travelling Black Cats side that could carry a potent frontline in the form of Darren Bent and Asamoah Gyan.

Bent, who netted his first England goal in midweek against Switzerland, will certainly start and may be partnered by new signing Gyan, who recently completed his £13million switch from Rennes.

Ghana international Gyan was one of the star performers during this summer's World Cup in South Africa, and the 24-year-old could be handed his first taste of English football.

If he does make the starting line-up, Gyan will replace Fraizer Campbell, who has been ruled out for the season with a serious cruciate knee injury.

Nedum Onuoha is available again after being ineligible for the 1-0 win over parent club City and John Mensah (hamstring) is fit.

Andy Reid and George McCartney have two reserve games under their belt and return to contention, although the match might come just too early for them.

Michael Turner (ankle) could be sidelined for several weeks and Craig Gordon (broken arm) and David Meyler (knee) remain absentees.

Charles N'Zogbia was one of Wigan's star performances last season and remains at the club as a proposed move to Birmingham fell through late on.

The French attacker has also been linked to Marseille, but returns to Martinez's side despite being left out of the victory over Spurs a fortnight ago.

Goalkeeper Chris Kirkland is available having also missed the victory at White Hart Lane due to a hip problem, while striker Victor Moses, who has been nursing an ankle injury, is rated at 50-50 to take part and defender Gary Caldwell remains sidelined after hip surgery.

New signings Franco Di Santo and Tom Cleverley could both be in line for their debuts.

Possible starting XIs:

Wigan: Al-Habsi, Figueroa, S Caldwell, Alcaraz, Stam, Gohouri, Diame, Thomas, McCarthy, N'Zogbia, Rodallega.

Sunderland: Mignolet, Onuoha, Bramble, Mensah, Elmohamady, Malbranque, Henderson, Cattermole, Richardson, Bent, Gyan.