8:50am Friday 12th March 2010
By Marc Iles
GRETAR Steinsson says battle-weary Wanderers should not hide behind their heavy workload as they head into tomorrow’s derby against Wigan.
Owen Coyle’s side go into their eighth game in 28 days with a mounting injury list, and defender Sam Ricketts suspended.
Fabrice Muamba is a doubt after sustaining a bruised thigh in the 4-0 defeat to Sunderland on Tuesday night, joining an injury list that already includes Gary Cahill, Chris Basham, Gavin McCann, Stuart Holden and Sean Davis.
Wanderers will have to shuffle their pack again at the Reebok, but Iceland international Steinsson is refusing to make any excuses as he heads into a game that could put seven points between his side and the relegation zone.
“We have got players to fill in – this is the way football goes,” he said.
“We have been lucky this last couple of years with injuries and suspensions but the players need to step up and show responsibility to play for the team because we need men to go out there to get us out of this trouble.”
Andy O’Brien is favourite to come in for the suspended Ricketts, and Tamir Cohen is also back after serving his own one-match ban.
Otherwise, it is likely to be a similar team to the one swept away on Wearside in midweek - and Steinsson reckons the squad will be able to cope with the physical workload.
“It is hard but we should be ready to come out and play,” he said. “We are quite good athletes and it shouldn’t be a problem so I’m not going to take that excuse.
“You shouldn’t be tired playing at the highest level and you should be mentally prepared to get over the tiredness and pain that you carry on from the previous games.
“You have a couple of days to pick yourself up and prepare for the game, so I am not going to blame that. We’re professional footballers and we should be ready in a couple of days.
“It has been hard playing Saturday and Tuesday every game but when we have had a week off, these days you should be able to pick yourself up.”
Wigan played themselves in midweek, earning a morale-boosting victory over Liverpool at the DW Stadium.
It was the Latics’ first victory in 10, but Steinsson does not believe it will have an impact on tomorrow’s events.
“The Liverpool result means nothing – it’s just the same 11 players going out there,” he said.
“It’s a massive derby. We want to play again and get things right – everyone is determined and we can’t wait for Saturday.
“It doesn’t matter who we put out there, we just need 11 players to match them up. We’ll have the fans behind us because they want to win, and we want to give it to them.”
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