Wigan Athletic Football Club News

• Nickname:Latics
• Founded:1932
• Manager:Roberto Martinez

• Ground:JJB Stadium
• Capacity:25,000

Double blow for Latics

19 Apr 2007 - 14:37:09

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Wigan Athletic's bid to stave off relegation from the Premiership has received a double blow after Chris Kirkland and Fitz Hall were ruled out for the rest of the season.

Kirkland has been sidelined for the past two months after breaking a thumb and, with the injury taking longer than expected to heal, the goalkeeper has been sent for surgery to correct an existing shoulder problem that was due to take place in the summer.

Meanwhile, defender Hall suffered a tendon injury in his knee in the 1-1 draw at Aston Villa earlier in the month and won't play again until next season.

Referring to the absence of England goalkeeper Kirkland, Latics boss Paul Jewell said: "He's had an operation on his shoulder and will hopefully be fit for the start of next pre-season.

"His thumb injury was taking longer than expected to heal and he was always going to have shoulder surgery in the summer anyway.

"So because the thumb injury was going to keep him out, we decided to go ahead with the surgery earlier than we had planned."

The Latics are just three points clear of the drop zone with four games of the season remaining.