Premier League preview: Stoke v Wigan

Stoke City take on Wigan Athletic at the Britannia Stadium as Tony Pulis strives to keep his side in the top half of the Premier League.

Stoke have lost just once in six games, a 3-0 away defeat to Manchester City last week breaking up a four-game winning streak with 2-1 victories over Bolton and Tottenham, a 1-0 win over Everton and a 3-1 result over Blackburn.

Stoke bounced back from their loss to City with a goalless draw at home against Aston Villa on Boxing Day. Mathew Etherington returned against Villa and will be looking to add to his two league goals and four assists.

Striker Peter Crouch sat out the game with illness but might earn a recall against Wigan with Jonathan Walters upfront. Crouch and Walters have scored four league goals each so far and with long-throw specialist Rory Delap back against Villa, Stoke will be gunning for a win.

Centre-backs Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth have been instrumental to Stoke’s success this season along with goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.

Currently sitting in eighth place on the table, Stoke have lost only twice at home this season and Wigan will be hard-pressed to push for victory.

Wigan had been on a good run of late, notching up two wins, a 4-0 loss to Arsenal and two draws against Chelsea and Liverpool before getting thrashed 5-0 by Manchester United when striker Conor Sammon got sent off for a foul on Michael Carrick.

Their Boxing Day loss set them one point behind Wolverhampton, who are a place above the relegation zone.

With Sammon suspended, Roberto Martinez will be looking at Argentine striker Franco Di Santo to lead the Latics upfront.

Third from bottom, Wigan have won only three games this season and have scored just 15 goals – the least in the Premiership.

Martinez needs Di Santo and Colombian striker Hugo Rodallega to step up, with Hugo Rodallega yet to score a goal this season.