EMERSON Thome is set to make his first league start for injury-hit Wigan on Tuesday night when they travel to Watford in the Championship.

Thome, who joined the Latics from Wanderers in the summer, is ready to step in because centre-back Matt Jackson is injured.

The former Wanderers defender has made one start for the Latics so far, in their Carling Cup defeat at Grimsby last month.

Wigan will also be without the suspended Lee McCulloch, with new signing Gareth Whalley, brought in from Cardiff, in line to replace him.