Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Heskey to miss Cup tie with Spurs

FA Cup third round
Venue: White Hart Lane Date: Friday, 2 January Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Coverage: Full commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live; Coverage on BBC local radio, score updates and text commentary on BBC Sport website

Wigan striker Emile Heskey will miss the FA Cup third-round tie against Tottenham with the hamstring injury he sustained in Sunday's win at Bolton.

The England international had a scan on Tuesday but manager Steve Bruce has already ruled him out of the Cup match.

"We don't know the extent of the damage to Emile's hamstring and we've no idea how long he will be out," said Bruce.

Wigan are also monitoring goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, who missed the win at the Reebok Stadium with a back injury.

Tottenham team news to follow later.

BIG-MATCH FACTS

Tottenham against Wigan kicks off the third round. It is one of three all Premier League ties.

Both these clubs fell to top Premier League opposition in the fourth round last season; Spurs to Manchester United, Wigan to Chelsea.

The League ladder

Wigan are nine places higher than Spurs in the league standings. ?

Referee

Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)

Replay date

Wednesday, 14 January 2009, 1945

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Current form

Not won in five; drawn their last three at home.

Recent FA Cup performance

Fallen once in the third round in the last five years; 3-2, away to Leicester in 2005.

The Manager

Harry Redknapp won the Cup with Portsmouth last season. He never reached Wembley as a player, and it was the first time he had guided a club to the final as a manager.

FA Cup fact

Tottenham are the only non-league club to win the FA Cup. They lifted the trophy as a Southern League side 108 years ago, and in so doing also became the first non-leaguers to knock out the holders, defeating Bury 2-1 in the second round on 23 February 1901.

WIGAN ATHLETIC

Current form

Won five of six, including the last three.

Recent FA Cup performance

Dismissed in the third round in four of the last six years.

The Manager

Steve Bruce has two FA Cup winners' medals as a player; victorious with Manchester United in 1990 and 1994.

FA Cup fact

Wigan were a third level club when they went on their club record run in 1987, eventually meeting their match in Leeds (second tier), in the last eight and succumbing to goals from John Stiles and Micky Adams at Springfield Park.

HEAD to HEAD

All competitions

Spurs and Wigan have only met in the Premier League. Wigan have never beaten the North Londoners.

FA Cup

They have never met in the FA Cup.

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