The versatile Barbados international has been out of action since limping out of Latics' Premier League draw with Bolton almost eight weeks ago. The player was initially expected to be out for only a fortnight but has met with continual frustration in his attempts to get back fit for Roberto Martinez's men. He was an unused substitute against Stoke two weeks ago and Martinez had hoped he could face Aston Villa at the DW Stadium on Saturday but, following another complication, he will not be rushed. Martinez said: "We thought he was close to full fitness but there is a little bit of scar tissue in the injury and we need to make sure he is 100%. "He joined the group for one session and he wasn't feeling right, so now we need to make sure he gets back to full fitness. "We don't want it to develop into an injury that can stop him being 100% for the rest of the campaign." Boyce's continued absence compounds a worsening situation for Martinez in terms of player unavailability. On-loan Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley is a major doubt with a rib injury, although scans have at least shown only bruising rather than the break first feared. Club captain Gary Caldwell also remains a concern with a thigh injury despite playing 85 minutes of a behind-closed-doors friendly against Stoke this week. James McCarthy and Victor Moses are long-term absentees while Villa's visit will also come too soon for ankle injury victim Franco di Santo. In addition to that, Honduras pair Maynor Figueroa and Hendry Thomas will also miss Saturday's game after picking up one-match suspensions. Interestingly, that means Wigan will turn out for the first time in 100 Premier League games without a Honduras international in their side. Not since an away trip to Portsmouth in March 2008 have at least one of Wilson Palacios - who is now at Tottenham - Figueroa, or Thomas not taken the field for Latics in the competition. Martinez, who researched that nugget himself, said: "It is going to be the first time after 99 games in the Premier League we won't have representative of Honduras. That's some stat! "It's that mixture of having flair from abroad and having that real British core of players, that has given Wigan Athletic the opportunity to compete at the highest level, the best league in world football." Confirmation Cleverley, who went off at half-time at Everton last week, has not broken a rib means the youngster should be available for Wigan's Christmas programme. There were fears a more serious injury could mark the end of the 21-year-old's spell at the club as it is rumoured his parent club are considering recalling him in January. Martinez said: "Tom is here for the season. Manchester United can call him back - that has always been the case - but we treat it game by game. "It is a very important period and we want to have Tom as fit as we can for every game." Wigan head into Saturday's game 18th in the table despite encouraging draws against Stoke and Everton but Martinez is convinced fortune will soon turn. He said: "It is never an ideal situation to have players missing but it is clear the squad is very strong. "We wouldn't have been able to cope with that number of absentees last season. "The players have been working hard behind the scenes and are desperate for an opportunity. "Now is the right moment and you can see that."
