STEVE Bruce has saluted his former team-mate Ryan Giggs as one of Manchester United's all time greats.
Boss Sir Alex Ferguson sprung a big surprise by putting veteran Giggs in the centre of midfield against Chelsea, but it worked a treat as the Red overhwhelmed their title rivals.
And former United skipper Bruce admits he was impressed by the Welshman yet again. "He has to be among the United greats of all time," said the Wigan chief. "I don't think there will ever be another Ryan Giggs - he's been magnificent.
"I remember his debut as if it was yesterday. The fact that he still has the same hunger and desire and is still playing with the enthusiasm of an 18-year-old tells you everything about him.
"Like Scholes and Neville, he's got that inbred winning mentality which obviously comes from the top.
"He is an absolute role model for all those prima donna footballers who think they are good players. They should have a look at Ryan Giggs and be a bit more humble."
Bruce, meanwhile, is likely to name an unchanged side for the game.
The 1-0 victory over Tottenham on Sunday was Wigan’s sixth success in seven league matches and Bruce is reluctant to change a winning team.
Therefore the 11 players who all played 90 minutes against Spurs will be pressed into action again as Wigan go in search of their first victory over United, having lost all seven previous meetings in league and cup matches.
Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Neville, Rafael, Vidic, Evans, O'Shea, Ronaldo, Nani, giggs, Scholes, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson, Gibson, Park, Possebon, Tevez, Welbeck, Berbatov, Rooney
Wigan Athletic (from): Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Scharner, Figueroa, Valencia, Cattermole, Palacios, Taylor, Heskey, Zaki, Boyce, Brown, Koumas, Camara, Kilbane, Pollitt, De Ridder, Kapo.
United league form: WDWWW
Wigan league form: LWWWW
Key opponent: Cristiano Ronaldo - World Player of the Year is due a goal
Prediction: United 2 Wigan 0 - Latics are in good form but the chances are United will be too strong
Agree with the prediction? Have your say.
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Preview: United v Wigan
January 14, 2009
Comments
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While United no doubt deserve credit for how they played against Chelsea it would not surprise me if Wigan actually proved to be a tougher game. There is no way that Wigan are coming to OT to play attacking football they will almost certainly put 10 men behind the ball and as we have seen ALL the top teams have struggled to break so called lesser teams down at home this season. If you were to offer Brucie a 0-0 right now he would probably bite your hand off.
By the law of averages Wigan will get a few breaks or set pieces in the game and the likes of Zaki and Heskey are likely to cause more problems for us than Drogba and Anelka who were pretty rubbish as were Chelsea in general.
An early goal for us would help as it would open up the game.
We obviously need 3 points to increase the pressure on the scousers but we will need to be well up for it if we are to get them.
If you actually knew anything about Wigan you would realise that we never park the bus so to speak. We never did it under Jewell and Bruce has never done it. We try and win every game and this is the reason why we are where we are in the league. It is also why we have been on the end of a few spanking's from Utd in the past by giving you too much space. So please, do not judge a good footballing team by the standards set by Sunderland, Stoke and the like.
COWARDS THATS WHAT WIGAN ARE --NO INTENTION OF WINNING THE GAME AGAINST UNI TED AND YET THIS SAT YOU'LL BE RUNNING THROUGFH BRICK WALLS TO TRY AND BEAT CITY ___CHEATS!!!!