Heskey: Could return

Related links

Teams

• Derby County
• Wigan Athletic

Players

• Emile Heskey

Also see

• Wigan fixtures
• Wigan stats
• Wigan forum

Wigan boss Steve Bruce expects Emile Heskey to be back for the Latics against Derby on Saturday.

The England striker has recently been troubled by a back problem, the latest setback in his injury-blighted season.

But Bruce is confident the powerful target man should be able to face the rock-bottom Rams in Saturday's crucial Premier League home game.

The Wigan boss said: "Emile's fine - touch wood.

"The only one we've got missing really is (midfielder) Ryan Taylor - I don't expect him to be fit.

Relied

"He'll be a 'miss', because we have relied on his delivery - it is so good - but as managers, we need a big squad.

"We've got people like (Jason) Koumas and (Erik) Edman chomping at the bit to come in, so you hope they can come in and do well."

Wigan are just a point above the bottom three as they go into the must-win game, which sees former boss Paul Jewell return to the JJB Stadium for the first time since leaving last May.

But Bruce was left encouraged by his side's performance in their last game against Sunderland on 9th February, where they lost 2-0, which followed a win over West Ham the previous week.

He said: "It's always frustrating when you have got to wait a couple of weeks to put things right, but there wasn't an awful lot wrong with us on that occasion.

Luck

"A little bit of luck went against us - I thought we played extremely well.

"West Ham seems like a lifetime ago, but we played exceptionally well then to beat a good team.

"We were comfortable and we have to maintain that level of performance."

Midfielder Taylor is out after suffering a rib injury in the Sunderland game, but defender Edman could come into contention following a calf strain, but will first be given a run-out in the reserves on Thursday night.

Another recent signing, Erik Hagen, will also feature for the second string, but he is not yet fully match fit.