ROY Evans will pull out all the stops at Wigan to avoid being humbled by a former 'pupil'. Wigan boss Paul Jewell started out as a youngster at Anfield but never made the Liverpool first team and forged a career for himself as a striker in the lower divisions.
Evans was a member of the Liverpool coaching staff who made the decision to let Jewell go but Town's director of football is happy to see the former Bradford and Sheffield Wednesday boss thriving in management.
Evans said: "Paul was a good goalscorer coming through the ranks at Liverpool but unfortunately never figured in the first team.
"But he went on to score goals at other clubs and is now enjoying management.
"He certainly had a good grounding, starting as he did at Anfield."
The director of football knows the Latics will provide Town with a very stern test, despite their poor home record.
He said: "Wigan haven't started as well as I'm sure Paul had hoped, but they still have enough quality in their squad to cause us problems if we don't start quickly.
"The lads have been boosted by the results in the last two home games and it's important we build on that."
Injuries have blighted Evans' pre-match preparations in recent weeks and Matt Hewlett and Andy Gurney are the latest to pick up knocks.
However, both should make the starting line-up at Wigan tomorrow (Saturday).
Giuliano Grazioli is recovering from his groin injury but the Wigan game comes too soon for him.
But two high-profile casualties have recovered sufficiently to make the trip to the JJB. Sol Davis and Paul Edwards will travel but will most likely take their places on the bench.
Suspension rules player-coach Razor Ruddock out of tomorrow's game and Adam Willis is expected to deputise.
Town's director of football will have another 'son of Anfield' to deal with tomorrow, with the Latics likely to boast Paul Dalglish in their line-up, son of former Liverpool star, Kenny.
The Football League is launching an immediate investigation into how the League can be restructured with any changes likely to come into effect in 2004, when the current deal with ITV Digital runs out.
A meeting of the League's 72 chairmen yesterday mooted restructuring, and that could see a Premiership Division Two featuring Scottish giants Rangers and Celtic.
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