Martinez hopes for festive cheer

Roberto Martinez says Wigan Athletic must take the disappointment of spending Christmas Day in the bottom three out on Wolves on Sunday.

Wigan travel to Molineux looking to put daylight between themselves and their opponents, who lay just a point and a place below them in the Premier League table.

“We all realise how important it is to go to Wolves and get a positive result,” Martinez said.

“Wolves have got a little bit of form, especially at home, where they have won their last two games.”

“We didn’t play last weekend, but in any situation, you always try and look at the positives.”

“Midfielder Tom Cleverley will be fully fit, [defender] Gary Caldwell has been able to get another few sessions under his belt and [defender] Emmerson Boyce is also closer to full fitness.”

“The negative side is [right-back] Maynor Figueroa and [midfielder] Hendry Thomas have not been able to clear their suspensions, but hopefully the squad as a whole is stronger.”

Wigan have been forced to practice at a number of locations this week due to their training ground being covered in thick snow, but Martinez does not feel this will have a negative effect come Boxing Day.

“We have been able to adapt and we have changed the location of our training,” he added.

“But we haven’t had to change any of our training programme at all.”

“We are very fortunate in that we have had access to outdoor facilities with astroturf and indoor facilities at the Soccerdome, and also at the stadium where the pitch is very good.”