Bruce backs Heskey to recover

Wigan manager Steve Bruce is confident striker Emile Heskey will be fit for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League match at Aston Villa.

The England international is expected to recover from the ankle injury which forced him off during last week’s 0-0 draw against Reading.

Ryan Taylor is set to fill in at right-back for captain Mario Melchiot, who has joined Erik Edman on the sidelines after being ruled out of the final two games with a groin problem.

Provisional squad: Kirkland, Taylor, Scharner, Boyce, Kilbane, Valencia, Brown, Palacios, Koumas, Bent, Heskey, King, Sibierski, Skoko, Pollitt, Aghahowa, Bramble, Figueroa, Hagen, Olembe.