Martinez buoyed as injuries ease

Roberto Martinez says a number of Wigan Athletic players returning from injury is better than any signing.

The Latics have not brought in any players in this month's transfer window despite their precarious position in the Barclays Premier League and Martinez was coy about their chances of doing any business in the remaining four days.
The Spaniard, though, believes his side has been considerably strengthened by the return this month of the likes of James McCarthy, Franco Di Santo and Emmerson Boyce, while Victor Moses and Tom Cleverley are also making good progress.

Extremely Delighted

Martinez said: "We'll always work until the last day but I'm always guided by the players we have out injured and I'm extremely delighted by the work the players and medical department have done to get them back fit.
"Those are new players for us but they know the squad, they know the style of football and they know what we train to do. To have all those players back is probably the best possible signing we could ever make in January."
Martinez will use the full extent of his squad when Wigan head to local rivals Bolton Wanderers in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

The Latics manager will adopt the same approach as in the third-round victory over Hull City earlier this month, where his fringe players and teenagers came to the fore, with 19-year-old Callum McManaman scoring his first senior goal.

Great Opportunity

"The FA Cup is a great competition and we always want to progress," continued Martinez. "We had a very positive experience in the third round and now is a unique opportunity to use this cup competition to bring players into the squad.
"It's a very busy period once more, four games in 14 days, and we need to get through this period with no injuries and making sure that everyone is refreshed and ready going into the last third of the league.
"It's a welcome distraction, it's a great game, a local derby. It's a great opportunity for certain players to show how close they are to the first team.
"We need to give them chances and I think games like we saw in the third round, it's down to the youngsters to take their opportunity.
"They did that, they got us into the fourth round, and now is another great opportunity to carry on showing the good football and the good work they've been doing behind the signs."