Manchester City v Wigan Athletic

Barclays Premier League
Venue: City of Manchester Stadium
Date: Saturday, 5 March Kick-off: 1730 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on ESPN, highlights on Match of the Day; listen to live coverage on talkSPORT, with updates on BBC Radio 5 Live and local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

TEAM NEWS

Manchester City defender Kolo Toure is suspended indefinitely until a full inquiry into his failed drugs test has taken place.

Fit-again Vincent Kompany is expected to replace him at the back.

Wigan defender Emmerson Boyce has a hamstring injury which could rule him out for a couple of weeks.

On-loan midfielder Tom Cleverley is recalled to the squad, having been ineligible to face parent club Manchester United last week.

Manchester City

Suspended: K Toure

Injured: A Johnson (ankle), Given (shoulder)

Wigan Athletic

Injured: Boyce (hamstring)

MATCH PREVIEW

Manchester City’s preparation for the visit of bottom-of-the-table Wigan has been hit by the shock suspension of Kolo Toure, following a failed drugs test.

When I accepted this job I knew it was difficult but it is a big challenge and I believe we can win a trophy Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini

Roberto Mancini’s side will have to remain focused on the pitch, having won just one of their last five league games. A slip-up against struggling Wigan would further dent their Champions League ambitions.

Wigan are facing their biggest challenge since winning promotion to the top flight in 2005. They have won just once since Boxing Day, slipping to the foot of the table. There are concerns off the pitch too; this week they posted a loss of £4m for the year, although their long-standing chairman Dave Whelan says he is happy to continue funding the club.

This, of course, contrasts with Manchester City, whose financial strength is reaping rewards. Although they have stuttered in the league recently, Wednesday’s 3-0 FA Cup replay win over Aston Villa should have restored confidence.

Top scorer Carlos Tevez and recent £27m signing Edin Dzeko started on the bench for City in that win. With a Europa League match in the Ukraine against Dynamo Kiev to come next week, City will continue to rotate their strong squad.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• This is the 21st time these sides have met. Manchester City lead by nine wins to six, with five draws.

• City are aiming for their first ‘double’ over Wigan since 1998/99, when they were in the third tier.

Manchester City

• City have won just one of their last five league games.

• Manchester City have the fifth-best home record in the Premier League, just below Liverpool.

• This is Roberto Mancini’s 50th league game in charge of Manchester City (W25, D13, L11).

• Carlos Tevez is poised to make his 150th career Premier League appearance.

Wigan

• Wigan’s total of 27 points is the most by a team at the bottom of the Premier League at this stage (28 games) since Oldham in 1992-93.

• The Latics have won just one of their last 10 league games.

• Defeat for Wigan would be their 300th loss away from home in their league history.

• Wigan also need to score once to total 100 Premier League goals away from home.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Manchester City

Tevez: 21 goals (18 league); Balotelli: 10 goals (6 league)

Wigan

Rodallega: 7 goals (7 league); N’Zogbia: 5 goals (4 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Stuart Attwell

Assistant referees: Gary Beswick & Adam Watts

Fourth official: Mike Dean

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Manchester City (D1-1 v Fulham, h): Hart; Boateng, K Toure, Lescott, Kolarov (Milner 77), Toure Yaya, Barry, Zabaleta, Tevez, Balotelli, Dzeko (Vieira 60). Subs not used: Taylor, Wright-Phillips, Jo, Wabara, Guidetti.

Wigan (L0-4 v Man Utd, h): Al Habsi; Gohouri, G Caldwell, Alcaraz, Figueroa, Watson (Gomez 89), Diame, N’Zogbia (McArthur 89), McCarthy, Moses (Di Santo 64), Rodallega. Subs not used: Pollitt, Thomas, S Caldwell, Lopez.