Henri Camara has been ruled out for six weeks through injury, leaving Wigan short of attacking options for the festive period.
The Senegalese forward picked up a knock on his knee during the first half of Saturday's Barclays Premiership defeat to Sheffield United.
Scans have shown Camara has suffered medial ligament damage. It is thought that he will be out of action until the end of January.
With Lee McCulloch facing a three-match ban it is another headache for Latics boss Pau Jewell ahead of Saturday's Premiership visit of Chelsea.
Jewell told the Wigan Evening Post: 'Henri is probably going to be (out for) six weeks.
'He has done his medial ligament - and that's a big blow,' added Jewell, who has acted by recalling Polish youngster Tomasz Cywka from his loan spell at Oldham.
