Martinez delighted to poach Sammon

01 February 2011 07:30

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez hailed the late capture of Kilmarnock striker Conor Sammon.

The prolific forward joined on a three-and-a-half-year deal moments before the transfer deadline expired.

The 24-year-old Irish frontman has scored 15 goals in 20 starts this season Martionez told Wigan's website: "Conor is a young, hungry player we have been looking at for a while. He has developed in an incredible manner over the last six months and it's fortunate that we've been able to move for him before he has achieved his full potential."

He added: "We are delighted to welcome him on board."

Dublin-born Sammon, whose arrival on an undisclosed fee has come too late to see him feature in the squad in the Barclays Premier League, admitted it had been a wrench to leave Killie.

"It was a big decision to leave a club that has been so good for my career but I'm a Wigan Athletic player now and I want to prove to everyone here they've made the right choice, and prove myself in the Premier League,'' said the former Republic of Ireland Under 21 international, who will wear the number 18 shirt at the DW Stadium.

Martinez added that the arrival of Sammon concludes a satisfactory month in the transfer market.

"Our main priority was to finish January stronger than when the window started,'' he said.

"We've achieved that by keeping our best performers, who attracted well deserved attention within the game and we've got real satisfaction to be able to retain the services of Tom Cleverley and Ali Al Habsi until the end of the season, which is a major positive for us.

"The return of James McCarthy, Franco Di Santo, Victor Moses and Emmerson Boyce after long-term absences all feel like fresh signings into the squad. The fans can be proud and excited about the challenge ahead."

Source: PA