MANCHESTER City manager Mark Hughes will monitor the fitness of six of his squad ahead of the Barclays Premier League match against Wigan on Sunday.
Kolo Toure (heel), Craig Bellamy (groin), Joleon Lescott (calf), Pablo Zabaleta (hamstring), Martin Petrov (knee) and Nigel De Jong (knock) are all struggling with injury.
With Robinho already sidelined with a stress fracture of the ankle Hughes could be down on numbers at the DW Stadium.
Ahead of the game Stephen Ireland claims that the new-look City has a much fiercer, more resolute mind-set than any City team with which he has been involved in the past.
"We have a winning mentality now," said the man who was this week awarded his Greater Manchester Player of the Year trophy.
"Everyone knows what we have to do to get what we want to achieve, and everyone is on the same wavelength.
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"And everyone knows how we have to prepare for a game, so as soon as you get in that dressing room in the build-up to a game everyone knows what needs to be done.
"Last year we were going out wondering whether it would be a great game or a poor one, but now we go out thinking we will win, and that we are going to play our game."
Signings like Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor, Lescott, Tevez and Gareth Barry have got rid of the old City fragility, he argues.
"In the past it has been a case of running out and not really knowing what was going to happen," said Ireland.
"The players the manager has brought in are all really positive and hungry - they want to achieve.
"There is no doubt we have signed the right calibre of players."
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez will assess the fitness of his various international players before selecting his squad.
Honduras pair Hendry Thomas and Maynor Figueroa - who helped book a World Cup place with a midweek victory over El Salvador - Colombia striker Hugo Rodallega and Trinidad and Tobago forward Jason Scotland have all had long trips back from South and Central America.
Martinez is not aware of any injuries to his international contingent so only has to decide what shape they are in terms of general match fitness.
Wigan Athletic (from): Kirkland, Melchiot, Scharner, Bramble, Figueroa, N’Zogbia, Thomas, Diame, Koumas, Gomez, Rodallega, Edman, Boyce, Cho, Scotland, King, McCarthy, Pollitt.
Manchester City (from): Given, Taylor, Richards, Zabaleta, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, Sylvinho, Garrido, De Jong, Barry, Johnson, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Ball, Weiss, Vidal, Bellamy, Santa Cruz, Petrov, Tevez, Adebayor.
Wigan league form: LWLWL
City league form: WWLWD
Key opponent: Hugo Rodallega - Colombian adapting well to Premier League
Prediction: Wigan 0 City 1 - if City keep a clean sheet they should win
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Wigan v City: Preview
October 16, 2009
Comments
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Every single game is a progress report enroute to where we want to go, none moreso than Wigan away.I used to think that we should be winning these sorts of games under Pearce,but that was more hope than expectation.
This time around we are in the best possible shape to put this bogey team to the sword.2-0 City.
Afternoon my blue friends. Took a bit of a beating yesterday in the debate over the playground split in Wythenshawe in the 70's. My dad is from Ancoats so maybe that's why I was taken to watch Bobby Charlton every other week. Nobody else just Bobby Charlton. Oh and I don't mind saying the odd trip to Maine Rd (the open corner bit of the Kippax by the North Stand) to watch City !! Wouldn't happen nowadays would it. Saw Rodney Marsh score an over head kick against Crystal Palace in that year he cost you the league.
Can't really get excited about this weekends fixtures but I might have a pound on United , Liverpool, Chelsea and City all drawing (Arsenal results are too random to bet on a present)
Out of the six players struggling with injury I think only Zabaleta will miss the game.
This will give Micah his chance to try and win his place back,competition is what I like,the players know it and the motto is 'if you want the shirt --KEEP IT'
must win
I personally wouldn't like to guess this one,however for those who think the next four or five games should be a breeze,nothing will ever be a breeze for City anymore because we're the team everyone wants to have victory against and i include the so called big four.I really do think this will be one of the toughest away games for us whilst we're still in transition and gelling,i agree if we do keep a clean sheet then we'll win,however we are still quiet fragile from set pieces and high balls coming into our penalty area and thats are only major concern,this away game will be far tougher than the one against Liverpool in my opinion.
If not 100% fit then you shouldn't be playing.We have enough players now to fill any position in the team so why risk further injury damage?
This could be close. I'm going for 0-7...
We should be far too strong. 3-0 to City.
Couple of points too
- Whichever area you are from in Manchester, its majority is blue. Now or in the past.
- I wish the FA would hurry up and charge old Bacon chops and dish out some meaty punishment. His bloated, purple, thread vein, gumchewing face is making me gip!!
My team with a full squad would be - Given / Richards, Toure, Kompany, Lescott / NDJ / SWP, Ireland, Robiniho / Tevez, ADE - Bridge will play for Kompany and Bellers will play for Rob - City 4 - Wigan 1! Come on City!!!!!!!!!
Well Lawro says we'll lose so that's that then isn't it? Think we'll sneak this 2-1. All bogey teams and grounds are there to be broken.
Score prediction 2-o to the blues.
What pub near the ground is every one boozing at if any?
I'm planning to get man smashed then sober myself up on large pies, peas and gravy for work Monday morning!
Tevez and Bellers to score!
CTID
Wigan is playing attractive attacking football and they gave Chelsea a wake up already.
We are well capable of going there and winning, that is with a bit of spirit.
I think this Wigan outfit and Manager are not as strong as in the past.
Fingers crossed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nedum and Kompany will Give Mark Hughes great options when fit to play.Robinho would need to take the game and his performances a bit more serious.I know he's Brazilan and they play in a relaxed mode but he needs to show more desire.He is class but he needs to score some goals when he gets his chance to play.Hope we can pick up three points against bogey team,Wigan.Up the Blues
this will be my team against wigan
GK Given
RB Zabeleta CB Lescott CB Toure LB Bridge
RM SWP CM De Jong CM Barry LM Bellemy
CF Tevez CF Adebayor
subs Taylor Richards Syvinhio Johnson Ireland Petrov Santa Cruz
It will be a difficult game remember wigan did beat Chelsea. If we are off form like Chelsea were we will not get nothing but i think we should win it 2-0.
COME ON CITY!!!
.
We have to fly at them from the start - no patient build up nonsense - and put the game to bed early doors. Their side is still fragile under their new mananger so there can be absolutely no excuses should we not take all three points.One plea .. only play those that are fully fit.
Tricky game and if Ireland is super confident, then even trickier game. Every time he came out and talked us up last season we lost. So I wouldn't hold out much hope now that he has! Something about the mind set at City which hasn't quite gone yet. Everyone seems to think that just because the pie eaters are just a bunch of pie eaters we simply have to walk on to their pitch to pick up three points. Nothing could be further than the truth as our history against them shows and as Chelsea found out to their cost a few weeks ago. This is a difficult game against a well organised team who can not only mix it up a bit but can also play some decent football. Add to that the fact that they always seem to be up for it when they play us and I'd be relatively happy if we got a point! Anything more and I'd be delighted!
What a casualty!
Line up:
GIven
Vidal Richards Lescott Bridge
SWP DeJong Barry Ireland
Adebayor Tevez
It is crucial Bellamy ruled out, which means Ireland has to play on left side.
Cant believe some of the predictions on this site. 7-0?
Remember Pompey, Blackburn?, these teams like Wigan have to be totally committed to stand any chance of winning and will turn us over like they did Chelsea unless we are equally committed.
I think we have more gutsy players that Chelsea but I'll still settle for 1-0 and three more points.
Cant believe some of the predictions on this site. 7-0?
Remember Pompey, Blackburn?, these teams like Wigan have to be totally committed to stand any chance of winning and will turn us over like they did Chelsea unless we are equally committed.
I think we have more gutsy players that Chelsea but I'll still settle for 1-0 and three more points.
We must go to these places and win! the past is the past, we have to look to the future, c'mon you blues, but i think it will be close 0 - 4 city!
Mark Lawrenson predicts a 2-1 victory for Wigan. Their manager Martinez says our set up is like a computer.
Firstly Lawro rarely gets our results right,secondly Martinez is just an upstart.
Come on Mark Hughes you dont need to do a team talk on Sunday just let your players read these comments so they will go out and 'batter' the pie eaters.....
Kolo Toure (heel), Craig Bellamy (groin), Joleon Lescott (calf), Pablo Zabaleta (hamstring), Martin Petrov (knee) and Nigel De Jong (knock) are all struggling with injury.
What part of your body is your "knock" on or is that a typo tee hee CTID
Shaun Goaters Magic Shin Pads, Salford
Loads in the centre weatherspoons etc.
There are no easy games in the premier league and Wigan away Fulham at home will show that.
The team that understands that and goes out week in and week out knowing they have to perform 100% to win the game, wins the league.
We now have players not so much worried about winning the game (no matter who they are playing) but more worried that if they don't give 100% then someone else will be in their place.
That's what will bring us success as it has done for years for other clubs. For those of you that remember the great Liverpool sides of the 70's who dominated Europe always had at least 3 international players for 2 positions.
I have felt sorry in the past for previous managers as they have been asked and expected to compete with one hand tied behind their backs because of our financial situation, but not anymore
So the message is clear to everyone ( even Hughes) You must try, try to succeed because if you don't your successor will!
As for Wigan and Fulham on paper we should win, however we play on grass and it doesn't always turn out that way, but that's why we love the game.