Siberski confident of turning Lactics around

Wigan striker Antoine Sibierski is raring to go as he aims to lead the Latics away from danger in the Barclays Premier League.

Wigan host Chelsea on Saturday looking to halt a five-game losing streak which has seen them slump to 16th, just two points above the relegation zone.

The Latics were flying high after opening the season with two wins and a draw, with Sibierski scoring in each game, but the summer signing was then sidelined for three weeks with a hamstring problem.

The 33-year-old Frenchman has since returned to the starting line-up and believes he is in the best shape yet since his free transfer from Newcastle.

“I wasn’t surprised to get injured,” he said. “I didn’t have a very good pre-season and couldn’t train for three weeks, so I knew it could be difficult for me after August.

“I had a good start in August because we had a good start collectively. I’m not the best player in the world so I need my team-mates to play good football.

“I then got a few injuries and it was frustrating but I had to deal with that. That was September, now we’re in November, and I’m fully fit to play the best football I can.

“I’m feeling good and I think it’s the first week I’ve felt as good as this.”

Sibierski believes a lack of concentration has let Wigan down in recent weeks, particularly at Birmingham last week when they twice surrendered the lead to lose 3-2.

Chelsea, meanwhile, hammered Manchester City 6-0 to revive their hopes of winning a third league title in four years, but Sibierski is confident that if Wigan communicate better, they can upset the visitors.

“We know we’ve got quality players, but we have to talk more on the pitch and play as a team,” he said.

“Sometimes concentration is an issue and if we don’t concentrate, it’s because we don’t talk enough. That’s something we have to improve. If we talk more, it will build confidence and we won’t make as many mistakes as we have done.

“We have to concentrate on what we have to do as a team and how we’re going to do it. That’s the only way to beat Chelsea. It’s going to be 11 against 11, and we know that if we can play as a unit and play football, we have a chance to beat them. In football, anything is possible.

“If we get just one or two chances, we have to take them because they are the kind of team that doesn’t make many mistakes in the same game.”