Wigan Athletic Football Club News

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

• Ground:JJB Stadium
• Capacity:25,000

Hutchings tips fit Kirkland

23 Aug 2007 - 16:31:24

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Wigan Athletic manager Chris Hutchings has backed the fit-again Chris Kirkland to force his way back into the England set-up in the near future.

With regular number one Paul Robinson under pressure after his high-profile error against Germany, Hutchings is hoping that his goalkeeper can avoid further injury woe and reach top form.

He said: "He's a quality goalkeeper and I have every faith in him to do a job, whether it be for Wigan or England.

"He's had a few injuries and I imagine Steve McClaren would want to see him in the first few games of this season and how he's performing.

"And if he keeps clean sheets and the team performs well, then I see no reason why he can't get back in that squad.

"But that's up to Steve to come down. I'm sure he will have had people at the games anyway, monitoring his progress, and we'll have to wait and see when the next squad's announced whether he's included or not.

"Sometimes you can go a season or a couple of seasons getting injured and he just needs to hopefully have one where he doesn't get injured."