WIGAN captain Arjan de Zeeuw returns to the side for the Premiership match at Watford after missing the Boxing Day defeat at United, but Paul Scharner will be out for eight weeks after undergoing knee surgery.

Manager Paul Jewell is again without several players, notably striker Henri Camara with a knee problem and winger Lee McCulloch who completes a three-match ban.

Ryan Taylor, Antonio Valencia and Steve McMillan are also sidelined.

Striker Svetoslav Todorov plays his last game of a four-month loan deal from Portsmouth.

Jewell said: "The Watford match is a big one. We know what to expect and it was tough against them at our place earlier in the season. It's important to take points off the teams who are around you."

Adrian Boothroyd will hand a late fitness test to Watford defender Danny Shittu ahead of the game.

Shittu hobbled off with an ankle sprain towards the end of the Hornetsé 2-1 defeat to Arsenal on Boxing Day and is rated 50-50 for the meeting with the Latics.

Boothroydés other major concerns are in attack, with Hameur Bouazza expected to be out for up to six weeks with a dislocated shoulder and Marlon King ruled out until the end of the season with a knee injury.

James Chambers (gash) and Clarke Carlisle (muscle) are also missing.

Watford (from): Foster, Stewart, DeMerit, Mahon, Henderson, Young, Shittu, Bangura, Mariappa, Smith, Francis, Doyley, Lee, McNamee, Priskin.

Wigan Athletic (from): Kirkland, Jackson, Hall, Kilbane, Cywka, Johansson, Landzaat, Heskey, Boyce, Cotterill, Skoko, Baines, de Zeeuw, Wright, Todorov, Teale, Pollitt.

Key opponent: Ashley Young - Lively customer with an eye for goal

Prediction: Watford 1 Wigan 1 - The Hornets are tough to break down and although Wigan have more ability, home advantage might see them restricted to a point

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