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Wigan won't be spending yet

Image: Bruce: Assessing new squad

Wigan boss Steve Bruce has vowed to give his current squad the chance to impress before dipping into the transfer market

Squad given a Brucey bonus chance to impress

Wigan boss Steve Bruce has vowed to give his current squad the chance to impress before dipping into the transfer market. Newly-appointed Bruce's next tie is a crucial relegation clash with Bolton after beginning his Latics reign last week with a 1-1 draw to Manchester City. But with five more games before the transfer window closes on January 1, Bruce wants his current squad to shine before chairman Dave Whelan splashes the cash. "I made a pledge when I came here, and to the players, that they are all going to get their opportunity," the former Birmingham boss said. "They've from now until January. I'll assess the squad over the next few weeks and see if and where we need strengthening. "Some of them, like Sibierski and Aghahowa, I've not seen because they have been injured. So I owe it to the squad here first. "It's all very well saying we will get whoever, but you have to make sure they will improve your team," Bruce said.

Colossal

And Bruce does not want to let his new chairman down, after revealing that Whelan was the sole reason he joined Wigan after paying a colossal fee of £3m in compensation to Birmingham to bring him to the JJB. "I've no qualms he will back me over whatever I want to do, and as repayment for that, I'll do everything I possibly can to keep this team - which he adores - in the Premier League. "Our immediate aim is to get out of the bottom three because we have been marooned down there for a few weeks. "If we're going to get out of this, there's one simple way we can do it - by making sure the spirit is good, we work hard enough and we give it a right good go," he added. Emile Heskey is likely to be fit for the relegation scrap against the Trotters, despite limping out of the draw against Manchester City, however Mario Melchiot begins his three-match suspension after seeing red in the same game.

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