Beckett could start in home game against Bournemouth

Luke Beckett could make his first start of the season when the Latics take on Bournemouth at Boundary Park on Saturday. With both Chris Killen and Chris Porter still under treatment, Beckett has a real chance of starting the game, although it is expected that both players will have recovered sufficiently to be included.

John Breckin said, “Killen and Porter came back from Gillingham with slight injuries, so there’s no point taking unnecessary risks. Luke Beckett is doing plenty of hard work in training and he would be ready to play on Saturday if we needed him. As he’s such an experienced lad, we don’t think he would gain very much from a night in the reserves. Having Luke back is great for everybody but, in a way, I hope he doesn’t play this weekend.”

Guy Branston (pictured) has recovered from his calf strain and also comes into the reckoning, after playing in the Reserve game at Rotherham.