The midfielder was forced off during last week's defeat at West Ham after suffering a recurrence of groin trouble.

He has undergone scans this week to determine the extent of the injury but manager Mark Hughes is hopeful he will be fit to return next week.

Captain Ryan Nelsen stepped up his return from a hamstring injury with a run-out for the reserves in midweek but Wigan's visit comes too soon.

New signing Johann Vogel is yet to receive international clearance.

Provisional squad: Friedel, Khizanisvili, Samba, Ooijer, Warnock, Bentley, Reid, Dunn, Pedersen, Roberts, Santa Cruz, Derbyshire, McCarthy, Brown, Mokoena, Tugay.