The Latics boss admitted Newcastle will prove difficult opposition, but is confident of a result.

After last weeks 1-1 draw at West Ham, manager Chris Hutchings is expecting a tough match with Sam Allardyce's Newcastle, but promises his squad won't be fazed.

Hutchings said, "West Ham was an intimidating place and it is exactly the same at Newcastle, it is a fantastic stadium, and the new manager, Sam Allardyce, will be wanting to get things off and running at his end, especially at home.

"We have to stay strong, stay determined and be physically right for it, and be mentally alert, and hopefully we go there and give a good performance.

"They have quality players like Viduka, Milner, Smith, I could go on, but we have quality players too and we are going there with a positive frame of mind.

"Everyone wants to be hard to beat, that is first and foremost, you have to have a strong backbone, and Sam has always had that with his teams. We need to win our home games, but whilst we are on the road we need to be difficult to beat and get something out of the game."

Whilst striker Antonie Sibierski is a doubt with a hamstring injury, there is a chance defender Titus Bramble will play against his former employers, having joined Latics from the Toon Army during the summer.

The gaffer was full of praise for Bramble, admitting "I have total faith in Titus, some people have doubted him in the past but I think he is a very, very good player, and Bobby Robson paid good money to take him to Newcastle.

"He's big, he's quick and he is strong in the air and he can use the ball well, and least of all he is hungry. He has come to a smaller club only in name, but certainly not in ambition. Now he is here and he is enjoying his football, and he is performing well but he must continue to do so to stay in the side."

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