Wolves vs Wigan Athletic preview - Wolves wait on Fletcher - 7M sport

Wolves vs Wigan Athletic preview - Wolves wait on Fletcher



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Posted Sunday, November 06, 2011 by PA

Wolves vs Wigan Athletic preview - Wolves wait on Fletcher

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy will make a late fitness check on striker Steven Fletcher before finalising his plans for Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with Wigan at Molineux.

Three-goal leading scorer Fletcher has missed the last three games with a calf problem but returned to full training on Friday.

McCarthy expects playmaker Jamie O'Hara (knee) and Stephen Hunt (back) to be fit after missing training during the early part of the week following the 3-1 reverse at Manchester City.

Defender Richard Stearman has challenged Wolves to produce another "backs to the wall" performance to end their current slump.

Wolves have collected only one point from a possible 21 since picking up seven from the opening three games of the campaign.

Wigan have fared even worse with seven successive defeats and Stearman knows the importance of Wolves adding to their misery in the lunchtime meeting.

He said: "In the past, when we've had our backs against the wall and people might have thought we were down and out, we've managed to pick up wins.

"We did it against the big teams a lot last season and now we need to do it against a team around us in the table on Sunday.

"Obviously we never want to be in that backs-to-the-wall situation.

"But the way we have responded over the last two years shows the character, the belief and the confidence in our dressing room that we can perform at this level.

"We've got to show that again."

Stearman also is aware of Wolves needing to improve their poor record against the Latics in a battle of two sides who both ensured survival on the final day of last season.

He said: "In previous years we've not performed too well against Wigan, certainly at home.

"We've lost the last few games against them and that's something we need to rectify especially being at home.

"They have managed to maintain their Premier League status for a long time now which is all credit to them, particularly without some of the investment that other clubs have.

"Like us they managed to stay up on the last day of last season and are trying to improve but hopefully we can come out on top against them this time."

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is sweating on the fitness of Mohamed Diame.

Scans have shown Diame suffered no major damage to his ankle following a tough challenge from Fulham's Steve Sidwell last week, but the Senegal midfielder will need late check.

The Latics will be without skipper Gary Caldwell, who serves a one-match suspension after picking up five bookings this season.



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