Wigan's new loan signing Mido will make his debut in the first eleven alongside compatriot Amr Zaki at home to Liverpool.

The Egypt international was brought in from Middlesbrough last week to replace Emile Heskey, who moved to Aston Villa, with the club having previously lost midfielder Wilson Palacios to Tottenham.

Wigan are still awaiting receipt of international clearance from Mexican club Necaxa for new £4.5million striker Hugo Rodallega but he could be on the bench if it arrives in time.

Former Crystal Palace midfielder Ben Watson, however, will not be considered as he has been out since the beginning of December with a calf injury.

Winger Antonio Valencia is a doubt with a hamstring injury, goalkeeper Chris Kirkland is nursing a back problem and central defender Titus Bramble is suspended.

New signing Mido is looking forward to forming an all-Egyptian strike partnership with Zaki - but insists he is his own man and will not be trying to fill Emile Heskey's boots.

The 25-year-old was brought in from Middlesbrough on Friday to replace the England international, who completed a #3.5million move to Aston Villa.

Both players are strong and powerful centre-forwards but Mido is planning to bring his own style to the team.

"I think Heskey is a great player, one of the best strikers in the country, but I believe I should concentrate on my own game and not think about that," he said.

"I know if I do well and play my own game, everyone will be happy with me."

He hopes himself and Zaki can forge a successful partnership that can fire the seventh-placed Latics into contention for UEFA Cup football.

"I have watched Wigan so many times - because Zaki is here I have watched them more than anyone else," he said.

"I just think Wigan have a great team at the moment with a lot of attacking players.

"The team is working very hard and is solid on the pitch and hopefully I will add to that and we can finish in a European place."

Robbie Keane will return to the Liverpool squad when the Barclays Premier League title chasers travel to face Wigan on Wednesday.

The Irish striker was omitted from boss Rafael Benitez's 18 players who took on Everton in the FA Cup at the weekend, prompting transfer speculation.

But Benitez has since confirmed he had no injury worries and that Keane had trained well for the past two days and would be included at the JJB stadium.

Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt insists confidence remains high in the squad despite three successive draws.

Just two points from their last two Barclays Premier League matches - the third draw was Sunday's FA Cup fourth round tie with Everton - has allowed Manchester United to take over at the top of the table.

After scoring eight goals in two matches against Bolton and Newcastle just after Christmas, Rafael Benitez's side have found the net just twice in three matches against Premier League opposition.

Both goals came from Steven Gerrard and the rest of the squad are struggling to supplement their captain's efforts, with striker Fernando Torres still working his way back to full fitness after hamstring trouble.

However, Kuyt believes the situation is not as bad as some critics are making out.

"Confidence is okay. We know we have the ability to win every game but sometimes you are unlucky," said the Holland international.

"This is football. We just have to keep going and look forward.

"We dropped points that we didn't want to do - because if you are Liverpool you want to win every game - but there is no time to stand still and think about things.

"We showed against Everton we were the better team but sometimes we have to kill the game and we know we can.

"I'm sure it will come, it came before. Sometimes you are unlucky and the next time you will be lucky.

"We are still in the FA Cup, we are still near the top of the league and we are still in the Champions League so we are doing very well and we have to stay positive."