WIGAN striker Emile Heskey is poised to start against former club Liverpool in the Barclays Premiership clash at the JJB Stadium.

Heskey returned from a two-game lay-off with a calf injury by playing the final 60 minutes of last Sunday's 3-1 defeat at Spurs.

Skipper Arjan de Zeeuw is again a doubt after missing the game at White Hart Lane with a toe injury, while wingers Gary Teale and Antonio Valencia are definitely out with hamstring injuries.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will have Craig Bellamy back in his squad to face Wigan and hopes Xabi Alonso also has a chance of being involved.

Bellamy missed the 0-0 draw in midweek against Portsmouth due to his five-day court case in Cardiff.

Alonso was missing due to a hamstring problem, but the Spaniard has trained this week and has a chance of being in the squad as Liverpool still searching for their first away league win of the campaign.

Mark Gonzalez, Bolo Zenden, Mohamed Sissoko and Harry Kewell are all long-term injury worries.

Wigan Athletic (from): Kirkland, Pollitt, Boyce, Webster, Jackson, De Zeeuw, Cotterill, Landzaat, Scharner, Kilbane, Heskey, McCulloch, Camara, Johansson, Todorov, Hall, Wright.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Agger, Riise, Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Alonso, Pennant, Fowler, Crouch, Bellamy, Kuyt, Guthrie, Dudek, Paletta.

Last season: Wigan 0 Liverpool 1

Key opponent: Steven Gerrard - Liverpool's best player is coming into some fine form

Prediction: Wigan 1 Liverpool 1

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You can get 17/2 on Wigan winning 1-0. For this and more odds, click here.

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