Wigan Athletic FC

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• Manager:Roberto Martinez

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Latics focus suits Kirkland

01 Dec 2008 - 09:39:41

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Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Chris Kirkland says he is happy to put his England ambitions on the backburner to continue his impressive form in the Premier League.

The 27-year-old gave a man-of-the-match display in the 2-1 weekend win at home to West Bromwich Albion, with Latics boss Steve Bruce hailing Kirkland as the best keeper in the country.

However, Kirkland, who has suffered a catalogue of back problems in the past, is content to focus on his career at the JJB Stadium.

He told the Daily Mirror: "At the moment, I'm very happy to sit out from England. To play for my country is a massive honour, but I have to be sensible.

"Wigan deserve me to be in the best possible shape for them. The last couple of times I have been away, I've had to pull out with back injuries, so the last thing I want to do is call me up only for me to pull out again.

"That's the last thing I want as well, because then everyone talks about my injuries and that's not nice to read.

"This is the way forward for me. It's not a case of not wanting to play for my country, it's a case of wanting it to be right."