Paul Scharner could make his Wigan Athletic comeback in Saturday's Premier League home clash with Southampton after rejoining on transfer deadline day.
Scharner, who spent four-and-a-half years with Wigan before leaving in 2010, has been recruited by manager Roberto Martinez on loan from Hamburg until the end of the season as an additional option in central defence, where Ivan Ramis (knee) and Antolin Alcaraz (groin) are currently unavailable.
Also not fit for selection is another defender, Adrian Lopez (hamstring), along with goalkeeper Mike Pollitt (thigh) and midfielders Ben Watson (broken leg), Albert Crusat (knee), Ryo Miyaichi (ankle) and Fraser Fyvie (soft tissue problem).
Forward Arouna Kone is away on Africa Cup of Nations duty and full-back Emmerson Boyce (hamstring) is a doubt.
Vegard Forren is in line to make his Southampton debut against Wigan after he did not feature in the midweek defeat by Manchester United.
The Norway defender, a January transfer window signing from Molde, was not involved at Old Trafford but could be included at the DW Stadium.
Southampton could also hand club captain Adam Lallana a start after he made his return as a substitute at United in midweek.
Lallana trained with the squad during a training trip to Barcelona before making an appearance at Old Trafford after missing almost two months with knee ligament damage.
Jose Fonte and Guly Do Prado have both been absent with knee injuries.
