WIGAN striker Antoine Sibierski is the only doubt for boss Chris Hutchings ahead of the daunting trip to United.

Sibierski missed last week’s 1-0 home defeat to Liverpool with a hamstring strain, leaving Wigan without both first-choice strikers as Emile Heskey continues to recover from a stress fracture of a metatarsal.

Midfielder Denny Landzaat is available again after recovering from a fractured eye socket, while winger Antonio Valencia is ready to return from a knee injury after playing 45 minutes in the reserves in midweek.

Sir Alex Ferguson is lining up Ryan Giggs or Anderson to play in central midfield against Wigan with Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick both out injured.

Carrick suffered a cracked elbow against Roma in midweek and is out for six weeks while Hargreaves faces at least a fortnight on the sidelines with tendinitis.

Full-back Wes Brown is still doubtful with a knee injury and United will give him a late fitness test. Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar (toe) is also still out, so Tomasz Kuczszak will continue.

Manchester United (from): Kuczszak, Heaton, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Simpson, Pique, Ronaldo, Scholes, O'Shea, Anderson, Nani, Giggs, Rooney, Saha, Tevez.

Wigan Athletic (from): Kirkland, Melchiot, Granqvist, Bramble, Kilbane, Brown, Scharner, Skoko, Koumas, Sibierski, Bent, Aghahowa, Boyce, Cotterill, Hall, Olembe, Taylor, Valencia, Landzaat, Pollitt.

Last season: United 3 Wigan 1

Key opponent: Wayne Rooney - Having bagged his first goal of the season against Roma, Rooney will be difficult to stop

Prediction: United 2 Wigan 0 - Wigan will have to pull off the performance of their lives to come away with the points

Agree with the prediction? Have your say.

You can get 22/1 on Wigan winning 1-0 with Betfred. For this and more odds, click here.

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