Scharner out after knee op

Wigan midfielder Paul Scharner faces up to two months out after knee surgery this week.

Scharner had been an ever-present this season, playing in 17 successive matches, prior to the knee problem.

The Austrian returned home for the surgery, and boss Paul Jewell confirmed: “Scharner has had an operation and is going to be out for six to eight weeks, which is a blow for us.

“We haven’t the biggest squad in the world, and now we’ve quite a few injuries.”

After signing Swedish centre-back Andreas Granqvist on loan to the end of the season from Helsingborg yesterday, Jewell has confirmed “another midfielder and at least one striker” remains on his shopping list in the transfer window.