McCarthy needs fresh challenge

If Roberto Martinez has his way, James McCarthy will see out the rest of the season at Wigan.

But even the Spaniard’s mastery of diplomatic-speak — he described reported interest in some of his best players as “a compliment” — couldn’t hide his apparent resignation to the prospect of losing the Ireland international later if not sooner.

“Whenever we lost players, it’s been at the right price and at the right time,” he said this week, “and I don’t think January is the right time to lose any of our important players when we’re right in the middle of the fight.”