Deal anxiety for Wigan man

Latics defender Ryan Taylor admits he has to return to action soon if he is to earn a new contract at the JJB Stadium.

The 24-year-old full back has been dogged by injuries in the past few years and knows time is running out to impress boss Steve Bruce with his current deal running out in the summer.

"I'm out of contract in the summer, so I need to start playing again," he told the Wigan Evening Post.

"I've just turned 24 and, in the transfer market, that's a good age.

"I would like to stay if there's a contract offered. I've been here just over three years and it's been tough at times because of the injuries - a bit of a rollercoaster."

The ex-Tranmere starlet was linked with moves away from Wigan in the summer, but it never materialised and he knows he needs to get playing again soon to remind Bruce - and other managers out there - of his quality.

"If I want to earn myself a new contract here or elsewhere I have to be playing," he said.

"People in the game need to see you play - they can't rely on having seen you two years ago and what you did then.

"In football, you never know what's round the corner.

"In the summer, I was reading in the papers that I was supposed to be leaving Wigan. One report said I had actually left.

"I don't know how true some of the speculation was - obviously some of it wasn't because I'm still here."