Wigan Athletic vs Middlesbrough preview - Mackay set for Wigan bow - 7M sport

Wigan Athletic vs Middlesbrough preview - Mackay set for Wigan bow



Posted Friday, November 21, 2014 by PA

Malky Mackay will get the chance to concentrate on football matters when he takes charge of Wigan for the first time against Middlesbrough at the DW Stadium.

The Scot is controversially back in football just three months after the FA launched an investigation, which is still ongoing, into text messages which he admitted were "disrespectful of other cultures".

He will hope to call on both Latics skipper Emmerson Boyce (ankle) and striker Andy Delort (back), who were back in training over the international break, but Ivan Ramis (hamstring) remains doubtful.

After only meeting the Wigan squad for the first time on Thursday, Mackay may call on familiar figures such as former Cardiff players Andrew Taylor and Don Cowie.

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka has a minor concern over defender Ben Gibson ahead of the trip. Gibson damaged an ankle on international duty with England's Under-21s in France on Monday evening but is expected to be fit for the weekend.

Fellow central defender Kenneth Omeruo was part of the Nigeria squad which drew 2-2 with South Africa in Uyo on Wednesday to miss out on the African Cup of Nations finals, and his participation or otherwise will depend on when he returns to Teesside.

Full-backs George Friend and Ryan Fredericks head into the game still on four bookings for the season with the deadline for avoiding a ban for five fast approaching.

However, defenders Jonathan Woodgate (thigh), Damia Abella (knee) and Rhys Williams (Achilles) and midfielder Muzzy Carayol (cruciate ligament) are still out.



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