Live Commentary

Zog to miss Magpies Wigan will be without playmaker Charles N'Zogbia and have a doubt over defender Antolin Alcaraz for Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash against Newcastle. N'Zogbia is beginning a three-match ban after his red card against Arsenal in midweek while Alcaraz is rated 50-50 with a thigh injury. New signing Adrian Lopez, the former Spain Under-21 and Deportivo La Coruna defender, could come into consideration. Emmerson Boyce (hamstring) and Franco di Santo (ankle) are not yet fit to return while Victor Moses and James McCarthy remain on the long-term casualty list. Goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has returned to Wigan after a loan spell at Leicester but is not in contention due to a back complaint. Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has warned his players Newcastle are a formidable side - with or without top scorer Andy Carroll. The 11-goal striker Carroll has been ruled out with a thigh injury. His absence should ease Wigan's task as they look to maintain a four-game unbeaten run and pull away from the Barclays Premier League relegation zone but Martinez remains wary of the Magpies. The Spaniard said: "If they play with 10 men it would be fantastic news but if Carroll is not playing there is Shola Ameobi or (Nile) Ranger, there are many replacements in that squad. "Sometimes I think players that have got a point to prove and want an opportunity become an even more important player for the team. "So, I am sure Newcastle will start with 11 determined players. "They are a really strong side, I have seen them play a few times. "They know how to play in the Barclays Premier League and they are going to be a real threat on Sunday. "Obviously Carroll has made the biggest impact in the Premier League from the Newcastle squad but they have got a perfect combination of experience and talented young players. "It is a game we are really looking forward to. "I am sure they will come here with a clear mentality of winning the game. "We always play in the same manner and that should make for an open and entertaining game to watch." Newcastle are looking for only their second win since Alan Pardew succeeded the controversially sacked Chris Hughton early last month. Pardew oversaw an impressive victory over Liverpool in his first game in charge but his side have since been beaten by Manchester City and Tottenham. Martinez said: "I am sure he is enjoying his challenge. It is a football club with a great tradition. "He has got a very experienced dressing room and I am sure he is going to stamp his way to play very quickly. "We know Newcastle are going to be a very competitive team. "We saw that earlier in the campaign and I am sure with Alan Pardew it is going to be exactly the same." Ameobi is expected to be fit to deputise for Newcastle after shaking off the hamstring injury which has kept him out of the last two games, while skipper Kevin Nolan returns from suspension and Jose Enrique (also hamstring) and Sol Campbell (illness) should be available. Midfielder Dan Gosling, who is yet to play for the club, is making rapid progress in his fight to return from a long-term knee injury, but Hatem Ben Arfa (double leg fracture) and Ryan Taylor (ankle ligaments) are still out. Pardew has told his players to strap themselves in for a white-knuckle ride as they attempt to secure their Premier League status. The Magpies face Wigan having reached the halfway point of their season on 22 points, which meant they began the weekend in 13th place. They would happily settle for that position come the end of the season with their continued presence at the top table the only requirement in the immediate aftermath of promotion. However, with the gap to the bottom three having been reduced to just three points in the wake of successive defeats by Manchester City and Tottenham while the likes of West Ham, Wigan and Wolves picked up precious points over Christmas, Pardew knows he can take nothing for granted. Asked if the second half of the campaign was shaping up to be a white-knuckle ride, Pardew said: "I think it will be - at both ends of the table. It is so tight through that division. "You look at the teams and there is not a lot to choose between them all, and it is going to be that fighting spirit, that determination to get over the line and to get yourselves into a good position in the league which is going to be important."