Fortune favours Wigan

Wigan have confirmed the capture of striker Marc-Antoine Fortune on a free transfer.

The 32-year-old, who was released by West Brom upon the conclusion of the 2012-13 campaign, has signed a two-year deal with the Championship club.

And he has now become Owen Coyle’s sixth signing of what has been a busy off-season Wigan as they attempt to bounce immediately back to the Premier League.

“To bring a player of such calibre to the football club is a great piece of business,” manager Owen Coyle told the club’s official website.

“He’s shown his qualities at the very highest level, and when I spoke to Steve Clarke at West Brom he told me how he didn’t want to lose him, which goes to show how important he has been at his former club and proof that he has the capabilities to be a Premier League forward, never mind a Championship one.

“So I’m really exciting to bring him in, the first of the strikers to arrive and I’m sure he’ll bring a great deal to the team. He’s powerful, can play anywhere across the front line and has pace to hurt defences.

“With the amount of games we have to play this season it’s important to have these kind of players at the club.”

Fortune scored just two goals in 23 appearances for West Brom last term, finding himself behind Romelu Lukaku and Shane Long in the pecking order for large parts of the season.

The Frenchman also previously spent two campaigns with Celtic but left the Glasgow club after falling out of favour with Neil Lennon.