Martinez hails King Kenny

Roberto Martinez is looking forward to pitting his managerial skills against Kenny Dalglish for the first time when Wigan travel to Liverpool on Saturday.

The Wigan boss takes his team to Anfield looking for back-to-back victories for the first time under his stewardship.

But they will have their work cut out, with the Reds having found some real form since Dalglish replaced Roy Hodgson last month, winning their last four games without conceding a goal.

And Martinez feels the decision to hand the reins back to Dalglish was a masterstroke by the Anfield board, having followed the Scot’s career from afar as a young boy in Spain.

“Obviously Kenny was a massive figure even in Spain before I came over to England in 1995,” Martinez said.

“That Liverpool side he was in was a great side, and he was their main man and the mastermind behind their success.”

“I admire him greatly as a player and a manager. He is a unique figure.”

“The year I arrived over here was the year he led Blackburn to the title, which was a great story in itself.”

“And I feel Liverpool’s season really started when they brought Kenny Dalglish back.”

“It seems the hunger and belief is back, and they will expect to be pushing for a Champions League spot by the end of the season.”

Wigan should be boosted by the return of skipper Gary Caldwell, who missed last weekend’s win over Blackburn with a broken cheekbone.

“Gary trained on Thursday with a protective mask and should be available to play,” Martinez added.

“He actually wanted to play last weekend, but we didn’t need to risk him.”

“He’ll have to play with the mask for at least a couple of weeks, just to protect the surgery.”

Martinez faces an anxious wait to discover whether Hendry Thomas and Maynor Figueroa will be fit enough to feature, the pair only arriving back in the UK the day before the game having played for Honduras against Ecuador in midweek.

The rest of Wigan’s international brigade – James McArthur, Steven Caldwell, Steve Gohouri and Hugo Rodallega – came through their matches unscathed.