No cause for alarm: Martinez

Roberto Martinez remains unconcerned despite Wigan Athletic’s lowly league position as his side prepare to take on Stoke at the DW Stadium.

Wigan slumped to a 3-1 defeat away to West Ham United last weekend, and are now just two points ahead of both the Hammers and Wolves in the English Premier League drop zone.

Points promise to be hard to come by against Stoke on Saturday, but Martinez is refusing to push the panic button just yet.

“It is early in the campaign,” Martinez said. “The table is only significant in May, and that is when we want to be in the right position.”

“We have got huge belief in what we can do and what we can achieve this season – and that is where the work goes.”

“The position now is a specific moment in the campaign. We need to understand why we are there, what we need to change and what we need to improve.”

Martinez acknowledges his men will not have it easy against Stoke, who have never lost to Wigan in the Premier League.

“We know Stoke and the way they play, and they are very successful and very effective,” Martinez said.

“Like in any other game, you need to try to impose yourself with your strengths and try to be strong enough defensively to cope with their physicality.”

“They have got two or three outstanding individuals who can use the territorial advantage their physicality gives them.”

“You have to be well prepared to play against Stoke. If you are not 100 percent prepared, you are really in for a hard time.”

“And we are in a situation where we need to take responsibility. We are playing at home and we need to start getting the points.”

Martinez has major selection problems ahead of the game, and could be without as many as half a dozen of his first-team squad.

Hugo Rodallega (suspended), Emmerson Boyce (hamstring), James McCarthy (ankle) and Victor Moses (shoulder) have all been ruled out, while Gary Caldwell (thigh) and Franco di Santo (ankle) are major doubts.