Source: Daily_Mail
Sunderland 1 Wigan 2: Kirkland would be England's No 1 if he could stay fit
Chris Kirkland's father Eddie famously shared in a £10,000 windfall from a long-standing bet that his son would play for England. [LNB]For his part, Wigan manager Steve Bruce wagers that, if injuries had not undermined goalkeeper Kirkland's career, he would be his country's automatic choice. [LNB] Dogged by injury: Chris Kirkland.[LNB]One-cap wonder Kirkland has to literally put his back into it just to take the field, but his endurance was rewarded at the Stadium of Light as Wigan claimed a first win in nine games to prompt renewed talk of Europe and leave Sunderland deep in relegation trouble. [LNB]Bruce said: 'For me, Chris is the best goalkeeper in England. If he didn't have the problem he has with his back, he'd be England's No 1. That's no disrespect to David James. [LNB] Sunderland 1 Wigan 2: All the action as it unfolded[LNB]WIGAN ATHLETIC FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB]SUNDERLAND FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB][LNB]'I played alongside one of the world's best in Peter Schmeichel and Chris is right up there. It's just a shame that, physically, getting on planes and buses, he struggles. We've had to restrict him and he has a personal conditioner who works to keep him on the pitch. I'm English and, if he can keep injury-free, I'd love to see him in goal for England because he deserves to be.' [LNB]Off the mark: Ben Watson celebrates his first goal for Wigan.[LNB]Kirkland, 27, believes he must banish his injury woes before he can begin to think of England again and insists team-mate Titus Bramble is more worthy of such recognition. [LNB]Bramble's many aberrations have made him a figure of ridicule but the former Newcastle centre back is enjoying arguably his best season and, in tandem with Emmerson Boyce, was comfortable against Sunderland's Djibril Cisse and Kenwyne Jones. [LNB]Fanciful though it might seem, a place in next season's Europa League is not beyond Wigan. Bruce said: 'It would be terrific if it happened, an unbelievable achievement. To be even competing for it is fantastic.' [LNB]Sunderland's target is survival. They are three points off the relegation zone and boss Ricky Sbragia promises changes for Sunday's visit to Manchester City, hinting he may break up the Cisse-Jones strike partnership. [LNB]Midfielder Andy Reid admitted: 'The manager is going to have a hard job picking a team because on performances here, anybody could be dropped.' [LNB]Wigan new boys Ben Watson and Charles N'Zogbia scored their first goals, with Grant Leadbitter replying four minutes before N'Zogbia's winner. [LNB]SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Fulop 5; Bardsley 6, Ben-Haim 5 (Healy 77min), Collins 5, McCartney 6; Malbranque 5 (Edwards 63, 5), Leadbitter 7, Whitehead 5, Reid 5 (Murphy 61, 4); Jones 5, Cisse 5. WIGAN ATHLETIC (4-5-1): Kirkland 7; Melchiot 6, Boyce 7, Bramble 7, Figueroa 6; Valencia 6, Watson 8, Scharner 6, Brown 5, N'Zogbia 7; Mido 6 (Zaki 84). Man of the match: Ben Watson. Referee: Mike Dean.[LNB] Sunderland 1 Wigan 2: All the action as it unfolded[LNB]WIGAN ATHLETIC FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB]SUNDERLAND FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB][LNB] [LNB]
