Horsfield Fit For Bantham's Game

Horsfield was removed in the second half at Upton Park with a groin problem and sat out the trip to Sunderland and the home defeat to Reading.

Geoff Horsfield - has been missed during his two game absence.

The Latics struggled without his physical size and strength as an outlet up front. Horsfield's absence from the team has not helped in the cause for stopping a run of just two points from a possible fifteen.

The manager said: "Geoff is tried and trusted at this level of football and you always miss decent players when they're ruled out.

"I should think he will be fit for this weekend because he's had an injection into the injury.

"Against Reading on Saturday, no-one took the bull by the horns up front, and for all the huff and puff we had, we didn't do enough in the penalty area."

Neil Roberts started the game at Sunderland up front alongside Nathan Ellington, but he wasn't good enough to finish the game and Gary Teale came on in his place.

Jewell then went with the combination of Liddell and Ellington up front - the same that finished at Sunderland - against Reading. A game which the Latics lost 2-0 and showed few signs of breaking through.

Surely "The Horse", who has scored six goals in his sixteen appearences for the Latics since joining from Birmngham will be in the starting line-up on Saturday if he can prove his fitness.

Likely Line-Up: Filan, Eaden, Rogers, De Vos, Breckin, Liddell, Kennedy, Jarrett, Bullard, Horsfield, Ellington.

Meanwhile, there seems to be no joy with Steve McMillan who is still having trouble with his groin.

Jewell said: "Steve's injury is quite a complicated one, with it affecting his hip and groin.

"He has had to have four weeks rest to try and sort it out and he has been unfortunate with it.

"Every time Steve gets into the team he seems to get injured, and he can't seem to play two or three games without getting an injury.

"He's frustrated by that, just as we are."