Wigan Athletic Football Club News

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

• Ground:JJB Stadium
• Capacity:25,000

Jewell's Kirkland relief

12 Dec 2006 - 10:07:17

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Wigan Athletic boss Paul Jewell is confident that Chris Kirkland will be fit enough to play against Arsenal on Wednesday after recovering from the head injury he suffered in the 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough.

The England international goalkeeper had to be taken to hospital after an accidental collision with team-mate David Wright.

But a relieved Jewell told the Manchester Evening News: "Kirky is OK. That's a big relief and we'll see how he is.

"It was a difficult half-time against Middlesbrough because Chris went into shock.

"The oxygen was on him and paramedics put him in a neck brace. Our main concern during the half-time interval was making sure Chris was OK."

Meanwhile, Jewell has cooled talk that he will be buying several new players in next month's transfer window.

He added: "I hope we're not looking to bring in six or seven players because that means we look like desperate buyers.

"In an ideal world I'd like to have enough points on the board to try to look forward long term, to next season. If that's the case then I believe we will need two or three short-term deals just to try and help us with cover.

"But if we don't pick up enough points between now and the middle of January then I could be looking at bringing in another five or six players. I hope that's not the case.

"The history of the January transfer window has shown the top clubs generally only sign one or two, while those who bring in four, five or six are maybe showing a little bit of panic."