WIGAN skipper Arjan de Zeeuw is out of the Barclays Premiership clash against Aston Villa and the remainder of the season.

The Latics have confirmed the 35-year-old Dutchman fractured his collar bone in a clash with Newcastleés Stephen Carr on Saturday and will be missing for six to eight weeks.

Matt Jackson is a major doubt with the knee injury he picked up in the 3-1 defeat at St Jamesé Park.

Aston Villa manager David OéLeary is set to turn to rookie midfielder Craig Gardner to fill the gap left by Steven Davis for the clash at the JJB Stadium.

Davis suffered a hamstring injury during the first half of Sundayés derby triumph over Aston Villa and is likely to be out of action for the remainder of the campaign.

Villa skipper Olof Mellberg is still battling to overcome the hamstring injury which has ruled him out of the last four games.

But the emergence of Gary Cahill, who scored his first goal for the club against Birmingham, has softened the blow of being without the Swedish international.

Wigan Athletic (from): Filan, Chimbonda, Henchoz, Camara, Johansson, McCulloch, Kavanagh, Francis, Scharner, Taylor, Teale, Bullard, Ziegler, Baines, Thompson, Roberts, Pollitt.

Aston Villa (from): Sorensen, Hughes, Cahill, Ridgewell, Samuel, Bouma, Milner, Gardner, McCann, Hendrie, Barry, Angel, Phillips, Baros, Moore, Taylor, Whittingham, Agbonlahor, De la Cruz.

Key opponent: Milan Baros - Czech international is showing his class at the moment

Prediciton: Wigan 2 Aston Villa 1

Agree with the prediction? Have your say.

Tweet