Scharner ready to upset Man City's star-attractions on Monday night

After last weekend's fabulous win over Burnley the question on everyone's lips is whether Latics can do the same against Man City on Monday night and finally achieve back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

Paul Scharner is confident, given the history between the two sides, that Wigan can come away from Eastlands with a result, unfazed by the many big-name players City boast.

"One of the problems we've had this season is putting together back-to-back wins and keeping our focus," said the Austrian.

"We have another chance now on Monday to try and achieve that, but we know it's going to be a difficult challenge.

"Manchester City have the ambitions to be a top-four team, they have many star players and household names in their team.

"But it's not all about the name on the back of the shirt, in the past we've always done very well against them and I'm confident we can do well again this time.

"We find ourselves in a good situation at the moment, seven-points clear of the relegation zone with the pressure is taken off us slightly.

"Hopefully that will allow us to perform well on the pitch and keep winning points. In these final games we have to aim for as points as possible and have the right attitude throughout to make sure we stay away from that end of the table."

Scharner lasted just half-an-hour during Saturday's game, a dead-leg forcing him off in the first-half. But although the incident that led to the injury could have been worse, he'll be fit and ready for Monday's clash;

"Against Burnley I suffered a dead-leg which should be fine for Monday night and as the week has gone on I've been able to be a lot more involved in training which is a good sign.

"In the same challenge I got an elbow in the face which I think was very harsh, we're supposed to be playing football, not rugby after all!

"I was disappointed to have to come off after just half-an-hour, as a player you want to play the full 90-minutes. But I couldn't run properly and told the gaffer that I couldn't continue.

"They were three massive points that have helped create more space between ourselves and the relegation zone.

"Looking back on the second-half either side could have gone on to win the game, it was quite open. But to get the winner in the 93^rd minute was a fantastic feeling, one we were delighted with."

Scharner was speaking whilst appearing at a local gym promoting the Premier League's 'Places for Players' initiative which encourages the participation of local youths in sporting activities.

Together with Vladimir Stojkovic he took part in a few games of Badminton and was delighted to help out;

"I played badminton when I was young back at home, it was one of my favourite sports. It's a fantastic, enjoyable game and it's good to see young people taking part.

"Coming to events like this and raising the profile of them is part of our job as well I believe. It's a great opportunity to meet Wigan Athletic fans away from the football pitch and interact with them."