Wigan v Tottenham preview

Watch Wigan v Tottenham live on Sky Sports 1 & HD 1 this Sunday

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 11th January 2009

Wigan v Tottenham preview

Defoe: Back at Tottenham

PREDICTIONS:

Skysports.com prediction: 2-2

SKY BET odds: Wigan 6/4, Draw 12/5, Tottenham 7/4

One to Watch: Antonio Valencia

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In-form Wigan will be hoping to keep their recent momentum going when they entertain Tottenham on Sunday.

The Latics have lost only one of their last nine Premier League fixtures, winning their last three in a row.

They have climbed into the heady heights of seventh place in the table on the back of that run and will now be harbouring aspirations of securing European football for next season.

Much of Wigan's success has been built on solid home form, with four consecutive victories secured at the JJB Stadium.

More worryingly for Steve Bruce's side they have won only two of their last 12 top-flight fixtures played in January and have failed to beat Spurs in seven previous meetings.

The last of those came last Friday, with the Latics slipping to a 3-1 FA Cup third round defeat at White Hart Lane.

Spurs have problems of their own, though, and head to the North West looking to add some much-needed bite to their attack.

They did put four past Burnley in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night, but have failed to find the target in four of their last six fixtures in the league.

With that in mind, Harry Redknapp will be keen to rediscover the winning formula which saw him make the perfect start to life in the Tottenham hot-seat upon his appointment in October.

The Spurs boss will be aware that his side boast an impressive record against the Latics, but he cannot afford to get complacent with the club still precariously perched outside the relegation zone only on goal difference.

Full strength

Wigan's cause will be helped by the fact that Bruce has a fully-fit squad from which to choose.

England international goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has missed the previous two matches with a groin injury, but has recovered in time to feature this weekend.

Meanwhile, strike duo Emile Heskey and Amr Zaki and right-back Mario Melchiot have all trained this week and are in contention.

Winger Ryan Taylor (hamstring) and defender Paul Scharner (Achilles) should feature and Lee Cattermole returns from suspension to add some steel in the middle of the park.

Defoe debut

For Tottenham, new signing Jermain Defoe is expected to be handed a debut following his return to White Hart Lane this week.

The striker has re-signed for the North London club just 12 months after leaving for Portsmouth and will be desperate to make a positive first impression this time around.

Spurs did come through their midweek exertions in the cup unscathed, so Redknapp has no fresh concerns to contend with.

That means the only notable absentees remain Darren Bent (groin), Tom Huddlestone (ankle) and Alan Hutton (metatarsal).

Possible starting XIs

Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Scharner, Figueroa, Valencia, Palacios, Cattermole, Taylor, Zaki, Heskey.

Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, Dawson, Bale, Lennon, Zokora, Modric, O'Hara, Defoe, Pavlyuchenko.