Roberts left Albion in January last year although the date of his effective departure was six months earlier. His relationship with Megson was strained for much of the 2002-03 season, but it collapsed following a row when he was dropped in the final game of the season to make way for a sentimental last appearance for Bob Taylor. He then had an unsuccessful loan spell at Portsmouth before Jeremy Peace managed to recoup Albion's initial outlay when he sold him to Wigan. One would hope that JR's problem was with Megson rather than the club, but it will be interesting to see what sort of reception he gets from the Baggies faithful. In my opinion, I have always believed that he has the ability to succeed at this level, but that his petulant attitude and belief that the entire world is against him has always let him down. And on the one occasion I have seen him this season in the game against Chelsea, I saw little sign of a change in that attitude.

Ellington, on the other hand, left the JJB after Albion offered £3 million to exercise a clause in his contract that allowed him to talk to other clubs. Robson and Jewell had a public disagreement about how the Baggies boss learned of the clause, and then Jewell claimed that Robson had reneged on a verbal agreement to do a deal with Earnshaw. Once the deal was done, the Duke himself did little to enamour himself to the Latics fans by saying that Albion were a bigger club and further down in their development. Although his comments are perfectly true, they will grate with the Latics hardcore fans.

Ellington's departure left Paul Jewell with a shortage of strikers and, after several failed attempts to attract front men to the JJB, he finally signed David Connolly from Leicester on deadline day, a move which seems to have more than a hint of desperation about it.

It continues a theme for Wigan through their in their failure to attract any real big names despite apparently having cash to spend. Their biggest signing in terms of money was striker, Henri Camara, the move that may finally have convinced Ellington to move on. As a former Dingle, he's bound to get a warm reception from the Albion faithful. The other new faces that Albion fans will recognise are former Liverpool centre back, Stephan Henchoz, who joined on a free transfer from Celtic, one-time JJB hero, Arjan de Zeeuw who has re-joined the Latics from Portsmouth and Damien Francis, the man that scored the spectacular winner in Albion's game at Carrow Road in February. One of the most impressive new faces this season has been French right back, Pascal Chimbonda, who caught the eye in the opening game against Chelsea with some inventive play on the right flank as well as a solid defensive performance.

As for the game, the animosity that has been built up between the clubs in the past couple of years is augmented by the fact that this is a vitally important game at this stage of the season. With Wigan having got their first Premiership points with victory over Sunderland last time out, the two clubs are separated by one place and one point, with the visitors having played a game less. Despite Albion having not performed particularly well against their relegation rivals last term, it is generally accepted that the games against fellow strugglers are the most important in terms of points. Of course, while the more optimistic Baggies fans will think that their team should do better this season, this is certainly a game that Albion should win. And from the visitors' point of view, it is a game they will have earmarked as winnable.

In Wigan's only away game so far this season at Charlton, Jewell opted for a loan striker in Jason Roberts, although that may have been more from necessity than design. McCulloch and Camara were both injured leaving Roberts as their only fit front man. McCulloch returned for the win over Sunderland but Camara has not featured since he pulled a hamstring playing for Senegal three weeks ago. If fit, I would expect Roberts and Camara to both play.

While Wigan's depleted front line has only managed one goal this season, their defence has performed well only conceding two goals. The Premiership experience of De Zeeuw and Henchoz has obviously been an advantage, and full backs Baines and Chimbonda have both impressed.

In the middle of the park, Jimmy Bullard has long been the Latics' main playmaker and with Kavanagh joined by new signings Francis and Ryan Taylor, it is a useful unit.

As for Albion, Robson has a number of decisions to make. It will be interesting to see whether he will grant Ellington the chance to make an impact against his old club. In my opinion, Campbell hasn't looked like scoring all season despite working hard. Horsfield, on the other hand, has hardly missed a chance - a sharp contract to his record last season - and sits on top of the Premiership scoring charts with four goals in two games. With Kanu the only other striker (unless you count Kamara) to have started a game this season, I believe it is time to give someone else a chance, and Ellington's combination of pace and strength, coupled with that extra motivation in this game, makes him the obvious candidate.

In midfield, Robson has chopped and changed so far with mixed success. I think the Carter-Wallwork central pairing was a failure against Birmingham and I'd be surprised to see that repeated. I wouldn't like to guess who Robson will start, although my choice would be Wallwork and Inamoto. With Gera having played 76 minutes for Hungary on Saturday, and likely to get another 70+ minutes on Wednesday, I'd be tempted to give him a rest. Kamara is the obvious replacement with Greening switching to the right, but I wouldn't mind seeing Chaplow there either.

The big question at the back is whether new signing Curtis Davies will get a look in. Having never seen him play, I can't really comment, but if Robson and Pearson have seen enough in training, he might get a chance. With Roberts' ability to win free kicks, I'm nervous about Tommy Gaardsoe, without a huge aerial threat from Wigan, he may get the nod over Darren Moore as he reads the game better on the floor better than Big Dave.

My starting line-up would be as follows:

Kirkland; Albrechtsen, Gaardsoe, Clement, Robinson; Greening, Inamoto, Wallwork, Kamara; Horsfield, Ellington.

After the disappointing performance against Blues, Albion have the ideal opportunity to get back on track. Anything less than a win would be a poor result.