Premier League preview: Wolves v Wigan

Wolverhampton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic have plenty to play for in a mid-season relegation battle at Molineux on Sunday.

The English Premier League is yet to reach the half-way point, but Wigan and Wolves – third and second bottom respectively – are already shaping as likely candidates for the drop.

Wolves are a point behind Wigan in the table, but go into the match in better form after beating Sunderland 3-2 and Birmingham 1-0 at home either side of a 3-0 defeat away to Blackburn.

Wigan are without a win in five matches since beating West Bromwich Albion 1-0 on November 13.

They subsequently lost to Manchester United, West Ham and Arsenal before putting together back-to-back draws against Stoke and Everton.

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez knows that draws will not be enough to save the club from relegation but, with the bluntest attack in the division, it is difficult to see how the team will find the goals to win matches.

Martinez’s task has been made harder by a spate of injuries to first-team players.

Defender Emmerson Boyce has been out since October with a hamstring injury and is not expected back until January, while Stephen Caldwell has missed four matches with a thigh problem.

In midfield, James McCarthy and Victor Moses are both out, while on-loan Manchester United product Tom Cleverley is in doubt with a rib injury.

Forward Franco di Santo has an ankle problem.

To make matters worse, Maynor Figueroa and Hendry Thomas are also suspended.

Wolves are not without problems of their own.

Midfielders David Jones, Karl Henry and long-term absentee Adlene Guedioura are all out, while Steven Mouyokolo, Michael Mancienne and Matthew Jarvis are doubtful.

Wigan will look to Jordi Gomez and Charles N’Zogbia to supply Hugo Rodallega in attack, but their porous defence must be wary of the threat posed by Wolves’ Ireland international duo Stephen Hunt and Kevin Doyle.