Injuries clear for Boro clash
Last updated : 20 January 2006 By Paul Farrington
Hutchings said: "McMillan still has problems with his knee so he is certainly out. David Wright is certainly out. David Connolly, and Emerson Thome are both ruled out too.
"Skoko came off injured the other day against Leeds, but he trained so he is fine. Alan Mahon joined in on yesterday, so he should be OK.
"Lee McCulloch also trained yesterday, he is still a little bit stiff in the groin area, but we shall have to how he goes although he will be in the squad."
Latics fans will also be pleased to know that Middlesbrough have been having a difficult time with injuries aswell. Hutchings added: "They've been in a similar situation to us. They have a much bigger squad but they also have a horrendous injury list. We'll have to see who can put the strongest team out!
"You have to remember they played one of the best teams in Europe with a very young side. It goes to show Arsenal can do that to anyone on their day, as they did to Everton last season. You have to be on your toes.
"Obviously we're wary of a backlash. It's not something we fear, but we have to make sure we're right on the ball after our win over Leeds."
 | New boys: Neil Mellor and David Thompson |
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Jewell's number two confirmed that new boys David Thompson and Neil Mellor will be in the squad this weekend and have every chance of playing.
"Thompson can play wide and he can play central, we need that at the moment," added Hutchings. "With the small squad and the injuries that we have we need one or two people who can adapt to different positions, and he is certainly one that can so that.
"Mellor is a definite goalscorer. When we played West Brom, we were getting balls into the box, but we just couldn't finish it off, and sometimes you just need that player who has the knack of being in the right place at the right time, and it falls to them and they tuck it away. That was why we took the opportunity to take him."
However, after his goal and performance in mid-week, Andreas Johansson is settling in to life at Wigan and starting to show just what he is made of, leaving Paul Jewell with a selection head-ache up front.
Wigan (From): Pollitt, Filan, Chimbonda, Baines, Scharner, Jackson, De Zeeuw, Henchoz, Thompson, Teale, McCulloch, Mahon, Kavanagh, Bullard, Skoko, Francis, Mellor, Johansson, Roberts.
Out: Wright, Thome, McMillan, Taylor, Connolly all injured. Camara on international duty with Senegal.
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