Viduka on the bench for Magpies

Michael Owen and Emile Heskey, so often teammates for Liverpool and England, were looking to impress when they squared off as Wigan took on Newcastle in the Premier League.

Owen has confirmed he will stay at St James’ Park until the end of the season at least, but Heskey, who is out of contract with the Latics in the summer, is one of the top targets in the January transfer window.

Heskey was up front with top goalscorer Amr Zaki, who was reported to have been fined by manager Steve Bruce after returning late from a break in Egypt, and Wilson Palacios returned after suspension.

Meanwhile, Mark Viduka was on the substitutes’ bench for Newcastle, who made one change from the side which beat Tottenham last weekend, bringing in Damien Duff for the injured Shola Ameobi.

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

Subs: Pollitt, Kilbane, Koumas, Brown, Boyce, De Ridder, Camara.

Newcastle: Given, Beye, Coloccini, Bassong, Jose Enrique, Gutierrez, Butt, Guthrie, N’Zogbia, Duff, Owen.

Subs: Harper, Xisco, Geremi, Taylor, Edgar, Viduka, Carroll.

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)