Andreas Granqvist is loving life in the Prem

NEWCASTLE UNITED v LATICS, Saturday Sep 1, 3.00pm. Follow the action on Wigan Athletic World with full uninterrupted match commentary with match action shots throughout the game.



Latics new Sweden international centre half Andreas Granqvist says he has taken to the Premier League very quickly and is relishing the battles that lie ahead, starting with the trip to St James' Park on Saturday.

Granqvist says: "When I was a boy in Sweden, I watched the English grounds on the television and it was always a huge dream to play over here. Now that I have had the chance to play, I don't want to let that chance slip!"

"Newcastle will be a tough place to go and get a result, but then I don't think any ground will be considered easy. For me personally, to play in front of a big crowd and in great atmospheres is a motivation.

"All I'm focusing on is my own performance and that of the team. When you look at the Newcastle forward line of Viduka, Martins, Owen and Ameobi, they have got just about every quality you can have between them, pace, power, strength in the air and finishing instincts. So I know we're going to have a busy afternoon!"


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Granqvist has been a revelation in the opening four matches of the season, with assured performances belying his lack of Premier League experiences.

He says he has enjoyed playing and says he has started to forge a good partnership with Titus Bramble at the heart of the Latics defence.

"It has been really good to play," he says, "I know there is immense competition for places in the squad, which of course is a very good thing for the team, and you know in football that one mistake could cost you your place.

"I think Titus is a fantastic player, he is so powerful and we seem to work pretty well together. It's early days yet but it helps if you have a good understanding with the other centre half. It's early days but so far it's going well.

"We want to make ourselves hard to beat as a team, that's always the first thing, because if you don't concede goals, that gives the strikers and midfielders the chance to make a difference at the other end!"