Steve Bruce may keep faith with Josip Skoko despite the return of Michael Brown and Jason Koumas.
Latics managers happy with midfielder's performances
Wigan boss Steve Bruce says he will find it difficult to drop Josip Skoko despite Michael Brown and Jason Koumas returning from suspension.
The Australia midfielder had not been part of Bruce's plans this year but, with several midfielders out, he was given a rare opportunity in the 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth before making a further appearance as Wigan beat Birmingham in the following game.
And with Wigan heading to Chelsea on Monday night, Bruce admits he may still give him the nod despite Brown and Koumas coming back.
"Josip hadn't played in the league for about four months until Portsmouth and I think his performances have been terrific," he told the Wigan Evening Post.
"He has given me a huge problem in terms of picking the team for Monday. He really showed me what he could do."
Fitness
Skoko's contract expires in the summer and he is delighted to be getting some first-team action, but he admits that he is still struggling for match fitness.
"It's been nice to get a run," he said. "Sitting in the stand watching games isn't easy.
"It was a great feeling to play in the win against Birmingham, although in the last 10 or 15 minutes I began to run out of steam.
"Match fitness isn't something you can replicate in training - you need to be playing games regularly to get it.
"It's Chelsea next and we'll see what happens for that."
