Skip to content

Martinez - N'Zogbia must impress

Image: N'Zogbia: Uphill task

Roberto Martinez has told midfielder Charles N'Zogbia to earn his place in the Wigan starting XI.

Latics boss unhappy with attitude of French midfielder

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has told wantaway midfielder Charles N'Zogbia to earn his place in the starting XI after his proposed move to Birmingham fell through. Wigan caved in to the 24-year-old's demands for a transfer request this week when they accepted an improved offer from the Blues, but the deal then broke down over personal terms. Following Wigan's 1-0 win at Tottenham on Saturday, Martinez told the France international that he will struggle to walk straight back into the first team at the DW Stadium "Obviously, we agreed a fee with another Premier League club and it seemed that transfer was going to go ahead," said Martinez after his side's stunning 1-0 Premier League win at Tottenham today, which was achieved without N'Zogbia. "Now, the situation is up in the air. "Charles is a Wigan Athletic player and he needs to do a lot on the training ground to persuade this group of players to open up and allow him to come in and fight for a place." Martinez, who contrasted N'Zogbia's attitude with that of the players who ended Wigan's horrendous start to the Premier League season, added: "It's difficult to accept that certain players don't want to be committed and don't want to be at the football club. "It's very, very difficult to see a way back for Charles."