Wigan face Macclesfield

Wigan start a critical week with an away tie at Macclesfield.

Martinez is likely to play another combination of first team members, fringe players and young players. This will allow him to rest most of the first team and give further experience to the others. He needs a fresh and fit team to face Stoke on Tuesday and Southampton on Saturday.

Stoke surrendered their unbeaten home record in spectacular style to Chelsea. In midweek, they then beat Crystal Palace in extra time before losing away at Swansea.

Stoke also have a tough week ahead of them. On Saturday, they are at home to Manchester City, on Tuesday home to Wigan and on Saturday away to Arsenal.

Southampton, meanwhile, can rest this weekend before they too enter a run of big fixtures. They travel to Manchester United on Wednesday and return to the north west to play Wigan on Saturday. The following Saturday they are home to Manchester City.

The league situation may be clearer by then.