IT'S a year since Steve Bruce took charge of Wigan Athletic and another tense relegation battle could again be facing the former United skipper.

Bruce worked wonders to keep Latics up last season but they have hardly set the Premier League alight during his second spell in charge at the JJB.

Clubs and managers are judged on results and Bruce's record this season is only marginally slightly better than Chris Hutchings' last term.

And he was sacked after just 12 games.

Bruce has bagged 13 points from as many starts but Wigan could and should have won more games, although he has not had the best of luck recently.

Latics had eight points on the board when the axe fell on Hutchings following a 2-0 home defeat by Chelsea.

Bruce knows Wigan must somehow try to string together some good results, but the manager is seeing good things from goalkeeper Chris Kirkland.

While Bruce admits Kirkland still has an issue with his back if he has to travel long distances, the situation is improving.

“We are trying to manage it as best we can, ” said the Wigan boss. “The more he plays, the more comfortable he is with himself and the new training regime.

“Thankfully he has not missed a game all season and I am sure he will have to come into the England reckoning at some point.

“He is certainly the best goalkeeper I have worked with in my time as a manager.”

Bruce will monitor the fitness of four key players ahead of the match against Everton on Monday.

Emile Heskey (hamstring), Amr Zaki (rib and calf), Mario Melchiot (knee) and Jason Koumas (groin) are all doubtful through injury.

Emmerson Boyce is sidelined through suspension after being sent off in the draw against Newcastle last weekend.

Marouane Fellaini and Steven Pienaar are major doubts for Everton.

Fellaini has a groin strain and Pienaar is also struggling with the knee complaint which ruled him out of South Africa’s friendly against Cameroon in midweek.

Both players will be assessed by Everton’s medical staff over the weekend when a final decision on their fitness will be made.

Wigan Athletic (from): Kirkland, Pollitt, Melchiot, Bramble, Scharner, Figueroa, Taylor, Kilbane, De Ridder, Valencia, Palacios, Brown, Cattermole, Koumas, Kapo, Heskey, Zaki, Camara, Cywka, Kupisz, Routledge.

Everton (from): Howard, Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Arteta, Cahill, Rodwell, Vaughan, Pienaar, Fellaini, Osman, Yakubu, Saha, Hibbert, Anichebe, Baines, Nash, Castillo, Jutkiewicz, Gosling.

Wigan league form: LLWDD

Everton league form: DWWWD

Key opponent: Yakubu - Can produce a goal out of nowhere

Prediction: Wigan 1 Everton 1 - It should be a close battle

Agree with the prediction? Have your say.

You can get 13/2 on Wigan winning 1-0 with Betfred. For this and more odds, click here.

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