WIGAN Athletic face a stern test of character starting with tonight's clash with champions Chelsea and then the Boxing Day showdown with Manchester United.

Latics find themselves having a big say in the title race but Paul Jewell's squad is rocked by injury with Henri Camara and Paul Scharner ruled out and Lee McCulloch suspended for three games.

Wigan face a daunting challenge taking on the big two but chairman Dave Whelan says the lads who take the field for Wigan will go out and give nothing less than 100 per cent.

Whelan told MEN Sport: "These are two very big games for us, they don't come any bigger - it's certainly not an easy Christmas programme for us.

"They're massive and we've been hit by injury but we won't be complaining because this kind of thing happens and you just have to battle on, we'll be up for both games.

"I don't know if it's either a good or a bad time to be playing Chelsea and United but this is what the Premiership is all about.

"Personally speaking, I think we can look forward to a fascinating title race between the two clubs and it could well go to the wire.

"Speaking for the North West, I really do hope United win it and they can.

"If they did it would be fantastic, but Chelsea are very strong in reserve and injuries can take their toll.

"Chelsea's strength means they have the ability to field a reserve team of international stars - this confirms their strength, but I'm still not ruling out United.

Bounce back

"We at Wigan are looking to try and bounce back after losing at home to Sheffield United.

"This was not one of our better displays but they are a great bunch of lads and they'll bounce back immediately, such is their character and spirit.

"We went into the Sheffield game following a midweek clash with Arsenal. We definitely deserved something from this one but were beaten by a very late goal. When this happens it can drain you and affect you in the next game, it's a knockout punch.

"I know this from having played the game, and you could see this was the case against Sheffield.

"We were not the Wigan people have seen for the last two years and, as I said, losing under cruel circumstances can drain the strongest."

Wigan captain Arjan De Zeeuw is hoping to buck the trend of Wigan losing against the big clubs.

"We feel we have something to prove because we haven't beaten any of the big teams, so we'll be up for them. It's quite annoying, but these records are made to be broken, so let's do it sooner rather than later.

"As far as I'm concerned, the pressure is on them to try to beat us and stay in contention for the title."

Meanwhile, Wigan say Andrew Webster, the Scottish international who joined from Hearts in the summer will not be returning North of the border in the new year.

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