PROMOTION-chasing Wigan Athletic take on Watford tonight knowing they must keep close tabs on former Manchester United striker Danny Webber.

He's the Championship's leading scorer and is a player who needs to be closely watched according to Latics England under-21 defender Leighton Baines.

Webber has been in a rich scoring vein for the Hornets and Wigan don't intend being stung. Baines said: 'Webber is a good player ' good pace and an eye for goal.

'We'll have to watch him closely. His form has been good and this is a tough game.'

Wigan have today been boosted by news that a knee injury sustained by skipper Matt Jackson is not as serious as first feared.

Manager Paul Jewell seemed resigned to losing the influential Jackson for a long period after seeing him stretchered off against Derby at the weekend.

Jackson is out for a fortnight and misses tonight's game but Jewell is relieved knowing it is not another long-term problem.

With Per Frandsen out for the season and needing a knee reconstruction, Jewell didn't want to lose another experienced campaigner. Emerson Thome deputises for Jackson tonight.

Jewell says: 'It's a relief knowing Matt's injury isn't as bad as we first feared. We've still to learn the full extent of the injury but he could be back in a couple of weeks.'

Mancunian Gareth Whalley makes his debut tonight, Jimmy Bullard has been passed fit and Mike Flynn is in the squad having been recalled from a loan spell at Blackpool. Lee McCulloch is suspended.

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