OPPOSITION REPORT: Wigan Athletic v Swindon Town

IN WILL Grigg, the Latics have one of the best link-play forwards in League One and his ability to bring the best from others is a key part of his side’s game.

Michael Jacobs is the key beneficiary of Grigg’s work. The attacking midfielder has scored goals breaking late into the box from midfield.

Yanic Wildschut will come deep to get the ball and has more of a free role.

Wigan boss Gary Caldwell has operated with a back three for the majority the season, with Max Power and more noticeably David Perkin providing the defence with extra cover from midfield.

They are are a footballing side and will try and get the ball down. From wide, Reece James will look to cut inside and drive at goal, whereas Donervon Daniels on the opposite flank is a more defensive option.

Likely Line-up

A Man In Form – Yanic Wildschut

FORMER Ajax forward Yanic Wildschut is on-loan from Middlesbrough and in recent weeks, has cemented his pace in Wigan’s front line with a string of eye-catching displays.

He is a powerful man with the ball at his feet and loves nothing more than to drive at the heart of defences and use his combination of pace and skill.

Such an approach brought him a stunning solo goal against Peterborough recently, but also creates space for those around him as Wildschut will often draw the attention of more than one defender.

With a number of other threats in the Wigan side, the presence of the 23-year-old certainly serves to act as decoy.

He will need to be tracked by one of Town’s holding midfielders as he has a tendency to pick the ball up from deep to start his run.

Yanic Wildschut

TREATMENT ROOM:

KEVIN McNaughton is the only absentee for what is one of the largest squads in the division, which provides Latics boss Gary Caldwell with an embarrassment of riches.

Veteran full-back McNaughton, who signed on at the DW in the summer, was injured in his third start for the Latics, limping off in the first half of Wigan's 2-0 defeat to Gillingham.

At first, the Scottish defender’s hamstring injury did not seem that bad, but it was later discovered to be more severe than the initial assessment and McNaughton is unlikely to feature any time soon.

With Will Grigg and Yanic Wildschut both firing, Caldwell is no rush to bring back former Norwich hitman Grant Holt, who recently returned from a knee injury.

The same goes for fellow Latics frontman Craig Davies, who is on the comeback trail from a hamstring strain.

Form Guide

Tue, Oct 6
JPT ROUND 2
3-2 Win v 
Crewe (A)

Sat, Oct 10
Skybet League 1
2-2 Draw v 
Bury (A)

Sat, Oct 17
Skybet League 1
5-0 Win v 
Colchester (H)

Tue, Oct 20 
Skybet League 1
3-2 Win v 
Peterborough (A)

Sat, Oct 24
Skybet League 1
1-1 Draw v 
Bradford (A)

Goalscorers

Will Grigg: 6
Michael Jacobs: 4
Donvervon Daniels: 3

Discipline

Craig Morgan: 3Y, 1R
Leon Barnett: 1R
Jordan Flores: 1R

The Stat

There have only been two scoreless contests between Town and the Latics in 29 years.