Another weekend, another so-called 'winnable' game.

But while hosting Wigan may lazily be deemed one of the more straightforward fixtures of the league season, a word of caution: this is a game Villa haven't actually ever won in the Premier League. A sequence spanning six games since Wigan gatecrashed into the top flight under Paul Jewell in 2005.

In fact, focusing on the fact that Villa haven't won in six attempts against Wigan is a little uncharitable; the Latics haven't made a habit of holding out for draws at Villa Park. Far from it. The visitors have actually won three of those six matches, enjoying 2-0 victories in October 2005, May 2008, and a memorable opening day of the season success in August 2009, when a stupendous volley from Hugo Rodellega set them on their way.

So, winnable? Of course, but history tells us that Villa don't win against Wigan at Villa Park and more often than not the hosts have been embarrassed. On four occasions, Villa have failed to even score. In 2007, Villa even enjoyed the benefit of playing with a man extra for an hour, Antonio Valencia being dismissed in the first half, but couldn't press home the advantage and settled instead for a 1-1 draw.

Check on the list of Wigan scorers during that six-match sequence, and Villa fans will spot two familiar names: Emile Heskey and Charles N'Zogbia. It was Heskey who scored Wigan's goal in that 2007 encounter, while N'Zogbia was the last Latics player to score at Villa Park, just last May, in the midst of yet another great relegation escape. He put Wigan ahead before Ashley Young levelled with a smart free-kick.

Young won't be at Villa Park on Saturday, but N'Zogbia will, in a Villa shirt this time. The Frenchman is no by means a direct replacement for Holte End hero Young - now rapidly becoming a Stretford End hero, following his last-gasp Champions League heroics - but his arrival from Wigan was intended to recompense, in some form, for Young's departure.

Young obviously left a gaping hole in Villa's attacking options, and N'Zogbia hasn't yet filled it, taking his time to settle into life at his new club. He shouldn't need long to adapt to Premier League life - after all, he's been plying his trade in England's top flight since his teenage years - but perhaps the demands of a bigger club have taken him by surprise.

Or perhaps Villa fans need to reset their expectations slightly. There's no doubt that N'Zogbia is an exciting, talented footballer, but when you recall his performances for Wigan last season, you naturally defer to the best bits, the highlights. N'Zogbia was imperious in the final ten games of the season; flying in top gear, confidence racing and form at a peak. It's not so easy to remember how he played during the first half of the season, when Wigan struggled and he wasn't at his best.

Watching N'Zogbia against Fulham last week, it was fairly clear that his confidence needs a boost. In the second half, especially, the winger had a couple of chances to run at the last defender; in the right mood and form, he would have had only thing in mind - to beat the man and go for goal. Instead, he looked hesitant and unsure, and didn't make the most of the opportunity. There are tell-tale signs when a flair player isn't at the top of his game. He won't make the brave decisions, choosing instead to play a simple pass and keep it safe.

That's all well and good in certain situations, but it's not what Villa paid £9.5m for. I have read one or two stories this week suggesting N'Zogbia might be left out of the starting line-up, and I sincerely hope those are wide of the mark. For one, I believe leaving him out against his former side would have an adverse affect on him, and, for another, I'm certain he's the kind of player you need to persist with. He's got the ability to pull something out of nothing, and Villa are desperate for an injection of inspiration from someone.

The Villa fans would also dearly love a new hero and N'Zogbia - whose name appeared on a staggering 90% of all replica shirts sold by the club since his arrival - can be that player.

Here's to a former Wigan hero finally putting right one of Villa's most surprising Premier League hoodoos.