MICHAEL Brown and Lee Cattermole could return to the Wigan line-up for their Carling Cup clash away to Ipswich on Wednesday night.

Former Sheffield United midfielder Brown missed the goalless draw at Tottenham on Sunday as his wife went into labour but might figure at Portman Road.

Cattermole is available after serving a suspension following his red card against Sunderland on September 13, and Latics boss Steve Bruce has promised to select a strong squad in a competition which offers hope of European football to some of the Premier League's lesser lights.

Bpss Steve Bruce is looking forward to a family occasion, with his son Alex playing for the Coca-Cola Championship side.

Bruce Senior insists there will be sentiment involved, saying: “It is about time I turned him over.

“It’s a game we definitely want to win. The club got to the final a few seasons ago and it would be great to have a run like that again.”

He added: “We’ll put out a strong squad, that’s for sure.

“To be honest we’ve got no others but what you’ve seen so far this season and it could be a chance for me to put in two or three who haven’t featured that much and need a game.”

He continued: “Michael Brown I hope will come back into contention.

“We let him off for the match because his wife was having a difficult time having a baby and we said he should be with her instead.

“We’ll also have Lee Cattermole back from suspension which is a big plus and we know Ipswich are usually very strong at home.”

Bruce is serious about making the right impression in the Carling Cup, adding: “There’s no doubt we want to respect the competition and have a go at it.

“We had a nice 4-0 win over Notts County in the last round but now the opposition is two steps up the ladder.

“The Spurs result was a good one but disappointing in some respects.

“I thought they were there for the taking really, but people will say good on little Wigan for going to Tottenham and getting a point.

“It’s still a case of most people not giving us a prayer. In some respects that is why it is a great club to manage.

“And even though we are probably two players short in the squad the ones we do have are quality and I believe we enhance the Premier League.”

Wigan Athletic: Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa, Valencia, Koumas, Palacios, Cattermole, Kilbane, Heskey, Zaki, Brown, Camara, De Ridder, Kapo, Kupisz, Scharner, Pollitt.

What is your prediction for the game? Have your say.
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