Newcastle v Wigan preview

Kinnear: To apologise to Atkinson

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Skysports.com prediction: Newcastle 1 Wigan 1
Sky Bet odds: Newcastle evens, Draw 12/5, Wigan 6/5
One to Watch: Amr Zaki
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Newcastle welcome Wigan to St James' Park on Saturday with the home side hoping to avoid the cartoon conclusion of their last Premier League outing.

The Magpies crashed 2-1 at Fulham last weekend and interim manager Joe Kinnear landed himself in hot water after describing manager Martin Atkinson as 'Mickey Mouse'.

Kinnear has since announced plans to apologise to Atkinson for his outburst and Newcastle will be hoping that their manager is not again making comparisons to the work of Walt Disney come this weekend's final whistle.

Wigan, though, will prove far from easy opponents and Steve Bruce's men will be determined to prove the villains of the piece, the Cruella De Vil, as far as Tyneside is concerned.

The Latics have won only twice in their last nine games in the league and that form has seen Bruce's side tumble down the table to sit one place above Newcastle, who occupy the final spot in the relegation zone.

It is only goal difference which separates the two weekend rivals, but Newcastle's plans of overtaking their visitors will be hampered by a growing injury crisis in the North East.

Kinnear, who remains on a temporary contract, appeared to have improved fortunes following his arrival at the end of September after guiding the club out of the bottom three prior to the defeat at Fulham.

But he should know that all does not always go as planned at Newcastle and Ignacio Gonzalez has only added to injury woes following the news that an Achilles operation looks set to sideline the Uruguayan for up to four months.

Steven Taylor is missing as the centre-half has a groin complaint, while Mark Viduka and Alan Smith remain in the treatment room.

Spanish striker Xisco is struggling with a hamstring problem and Michael Owen, Joey Barton and Jonas Gutierrez are still lacking match sharpness.

Wigan's hopes will be placed firmly at the goalscoring feet of in-demand striker Amr Zaki, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid when his year-long loan expires.

Bruce - who saw his side demolished by Arsenal's youngsters in the Carling Cup in midweek - is desperate to keep hold of the Egyptian international after a run eight goals in 12 games and expectations will be for that form to continue.

Emile Heskey missed the defeat at Emirates Stadium with a hamstring injury and could again be absent so Henri Camara may start, while the likes of Paul Scharner, Michael Brown, Kevin Kilbane are all in contention.

Possible starting XIs

Newcastle: Given, Beye, Cacapa, Coloccini, Enrique, Gutierrez, Barton, Butt, Duff, Ameobi, Martins.

Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Boyce, Figueroa, Koumas, De Ridder, Cattermole, Palacios, Valencia, Zaki.