Caldwell named Latics captain

Caldwell: Honoured

Scotland international Gary Caldwell has been appointed as Wigan Athletic's new club captain.

The 28-year-old only joined the Latics from Celtic during the January transfer window, but has made quite an impression at the DW Stadium.

He has now been handed the responsibility of leading the side throughout the 2010/11 campaign, with former skipper Mario Melchiot having left the club this summer.

"It's a massive honour for me to have been named club captain and a role I'll take great pride in," Caldwell told Wigan's official website.

"After my arrival in January it didn't take me long to realise how special a club this is and how much it means to the fans.

"As usual, the rest of the team and I will be giving 100 per cent every day to help push the club forwards."

No concern

With Caldwell currently sidelined through injury, Chris Kirkland took the armband for Saturday's Premier League opener against Blackpool.

He endured a torrid afternoon during a 4-0 drubbing by top flight new boys Blackpool, but Wigan boss Roberto Martinez is adamant the added responsibility was not to blame for the uncharacteristically poor performance by his keeper.

"The captaincy was not a factor - not at all," Martinez told the Wigan Evening Post.

"The club captain is Gary Caldwell, who is injured, and the players themselves chose three other representatives - Chris, Steve Gohouri and Emmerson Boyce.

"Chris was captain on Saturday but I don't think the armband had anything to do with our performance as a team - particularly in the first half."

And, in a show of faith for the former Liverpool man, Martinez added: "Chris is experienced enough to bounce back. That is absolutely not a concern for me."