Premier League preview: Wigan v Fulham

Fringe Wigan strikers Mauro Boselli and Callum McManaman have given manager Roberto Martinez many options ahead of their clash with Fulham.

While Franco Di Santo and Arouna Kone have been the main forwards used by Martinez so far this season, Wigan’s manager was thrilled to see Boselli and McManaman put in 100 percent effort for the club’s Under-21 team as they try to earn a first-team start at the DW Stadium this weekend.

Both Boselli and McManaman scored in a 3-3 draw and Martinez has conceded he faces some hard decisions, although he is happy to have options ahead of three games in the space of a week.

“We’re going into a busy period, we’ve got the game against Fulham at the weekend and West Ham in the Capital One cup on Tuesday, before travelling to Sunderland next Saturday,” Martinez said.

“It’s going to be a very busy period, we need everyone fully fit.

“It’s great to see the desire of Mauro Boselli wanting to play the game with the Under-21’s on Monday and obviously Callum McManaman performing very well at that level is very pleasing.

“It’s good to have that competition in the squad.”

Wigan have a win and a draw from their four games so far this season but head into Saturday’s clash with Fulham on the back of a 4-0 thrashing by Manchester United, while Fulham dismantled West Bromwich Albion with a 3-0 triumph last round.

That victory was Dimitar Berbatov’s starting debut for Fulham and the Bulgarian striker scored the London club’s first two goals of the game.

Berbatov’s first goal came after some good lead-up work by young Swedish midfielder Alexander Kacaniklic, who has been a real bright point to Fulham’s start of the season.

Kacaniklic scored in Fulham’s first match of the season as they destroyed Norwich 5-0 and earned some praise from his partner on the left wing, Norwegian full-back John-Arne Riise.

“He (Kacaniklic) works hard, he’s young and keen to learn,” Riise said.

“I like having him in front of me because I know he’ll do a lot of good things.

“It looks good for the rest of the season.”

Fulham manager Martin Jol’s main injury concern for their trip to Wigan is whether Bryan Ruiz will be ready, as the Costa Rican attacker is only rated 50-50 with a hamstring problem.

Wigan have only one name on their injury list, with central defender Antolin Alcaraz (groin) expected to be fit for Saturday’s match.