Wigan Athletic signing Nicky Maynard believes he can help fire his new team back into the Premier League during his loan spell at the DW Stadium.
The 27-year-old striker has joined Latics on loan from Cardiff City until the end of the season.
He becomes Uwe Rosler’s second signing since becoming Wigan Athletic manager, following the arrival of Tyias Browning from Everton last week, and will wear the number 29 shirt.
Maynard is looking forward to getting some playing time under his belt after injury ruled him out for most of last season and limited first-team opportunities so far this term.
“It’s a big opportunity for me, one in which I can get a few games under my belt and help Wigan Athletic push up the league at the same time by scoring a lot of goals,” he said
“I suffered a bad injury last season which limited my game time, but I’m fit again now and raring to go. I’ve not played as many games as I would have liked this season at Cardiff, so the chance to get on the pitch here was an exciting one.”
Maynard signed for Cardiff in August 2012, at the beginning of their promotion-winning season from the Championship, but suffered an injury shortly afterward that would rule him out for the campaign.
So far this season the forward has made ten appearances in all competitions, eight of which in the Premier League, and has scored one goal against Accrington Stanley in the Capital One Cup.
“Wigan Athletic is a massive club with great players, and together we need to get back to the Premier League,” said the forward.
“Hopefully I can help maintain the good form they have shown in recent weeks and push onto another level towards promotion to the top flight.”
Latics’ boss Rosler is delighted to be adding more firepower to his attack.
“Nicky is at the stage of his career where he wants to play regular football again after his injury last season. He wants to prove a point to himself and also to the people,” said the former Manchester City striker.
“That’s a perfect scenario for us; it matches our ambitions. We want to prove a point, we want to go up, we want to into the play offs and I think we can give him the platform to perform again.
“I will be patient with him because he has not played in a while. But, he’s fit, and he’s ready to go.”
Maynard will be available to make his debut when Wigan travel to the Keepmoat Stadium to face Doncaster Rovers in the Championship tomorrow.
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