Duo return for Latics

Defender Emmerson Boyce returns to Wigan’s squad for the trip to Newcastle on St Stephen's Day after recovering from a torn hamstring.

Midfielder Wilson Palacios is also back from a one-match suspension which caused him to miss the 3-0 victory over Blackburn in their last outing on December 13.

The side does not need freshening up as Manchester United’s participation in the Club World Cup meant the Latics did not have a match last weekend so manager Steve Bruce must decide whether to change a winning side.

Provisional squad: Kirkland, Taylor, Bramble, Scharner, Boyce, Figueroa, Valencia, Cattermole, Brown, Palacios, Koumas, Camara, Zaki, Heskey, Melchiot, Kilbane, Pollitt, Kingson, De Ridder, Cywka.