Under-pressure Wigan hit by injuries

Wigan's bid to escape from the jaws of relegation has been hit by a string of suspensions and injuries at FA Cup semi-finalists Portsmouth.

They are without a complete midfield trio in the banned Michael Brown, Jason Koumas and Wilson Palacios.

With new signing Erik Edman ruled out for the rest of the season at least after rupturing cruciate knee ligaments, manager Steve Bruce has called up Ryan Taylor, Josip Skoko and another new boy Erik Hagen, the latter making his debut.

Strikers Marlon King and Antoine Sibierski can only find places on the bench.

Portsmouth are also without key players a week before their Wembley clash with West Brom, including suspended Papa Bouba Diop and Sulley Muntari and the injured Lassana Diarra.

Jermain Defoe and skipper Sol Campbell return after missing last week's defeat at their former club Tottenham.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Utaka, Davis, Pedro Mendes, Kranjcar, Baros, Defoe.

Subs: Ashdown, Lauren, Nugent, Mvuemba, Hughes.

Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Hagen, Kilbane, Valencia, Skoko, Scharner, Taylor, Heskey, Bent.

Subs: Pollitt, Sibierski, King, Aghahowa, Figueroa.

Referee: Alan Wiley.