Martinez ponders changes - 7M sport

Martinez ponders changes

Posted Sunday, August 30, 2009 by PA

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is likely to make wholesale changes for the Barclays Premier League trip to Everton.

The Spaniard was furious after the midweek Carling Cup defeat to Blackpool when the nine squad players he brought in failed to perform.

Only defender Paul Scharner and midfielder Moham d Diame from the starting line-up at Bloomfield Road are likely to survive the cull.

Following the game at Goodison Park there will be a 13-day period before their next fixture and Martinez is keen to avoid spending that time mulling over a third successive league defeat.

"It is important because when you have a break everyone speaks about the last game and the last game needs to be a good performance, a game where everyone feels we have competed on the pitch," said the Spaniard.

"Goodison Park is an historic place in world football and it would be an ideal situation to have an international break having played a good game against Everton.

"We are looking to start the game well at Everton and show we can correct the things we have not done well.

"They were in the FA Cup final not too long ago and had a fantastic end to last season and Everton are a team that can beat anyone on a regular basis."

Defender Sylvain Distin is expected to make his Everton debut after sealing his move from Portsmouth.

The Frenchman's arrival will free up Phil Neville to revert to a midfield role as the team aim to get back on track in the league.

Diniyar Bilyaletdinov could also secure a place in the squad along with Aiyegbeni Yakubu, who played the last 14 minutes of the Europa League play-off match against Sigma Olomouc on Thursday after recovering from a ruptured Achilles.

Phil Jagielka, Mikel Arteta and Victor Anichebe remain sidelined through injury.

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