Fulham-Wigan Athletic FC Preview

WALTER SIMON,

(AP) -- LONDON (SE) - Wigan's Austrian midfield player Paul Scharner is determined to show Fulham manager Roy Hodgson was wrong not to sign him when the teams meet at the DW Stadium on Sunday.

Scharner first clashed with Hodgson in Norway when he was playing for Brann Bergen against Hodgson's Viking Stavanger.

Hodgson inquired about Scharner's availability this summer but did not follow up his interest.

Scharner said: "It was flattering to know of Roy's interest in me. He knows me from Norway and I must have made an impression on him.

"Roy's teams always have a great mentality. He has worked all over the world and that gives his teams an advantage.

"In my opinion he is a very good manager, one of the best in the Premier League. At the time I was sorry he did not follow up his inquiry but I am very happy now at Wigan."

Scharner is out of contract at the end of the season and it remains to be seen if Hodgson returns to sign him when he becomes a free agent.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has more pressing worries after his team were demolished 4-0 by bottom-placed Portsmouth last week.

Martinez said: "We must learn from a painful lesson. We were well beaten and we did not put up nearly enough resistance.

"I hope the players will respond in the right way. We have been strong at home and after what happened at Portsmouth we badly need a good result to restore the faith of our supporters.

"Fulham are playing in Europe and are on a good run. They have had fantastic results against Liverpool and Manchester City.

"While we fancy our chances at home, Fulham are a difficult proposition."

Hodgson's team had a day off on Friday after the disappointment of losing 2-1 to Roma in the Europa League in a match that saw Erik Nevland and Paul Konchesky sent off.

Both will be available for the match at Wigan and Hodgson will check several injuries before naming his side to face the Latics.

Fulham's Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer pointed out the Londoners had lost only two league games in eleven and stand a good chance of progressing in the Europa League to the last 32 stage.

Schwarzer said: "The result in Rome will not affect us. Wigan is a long journey from Rome and it is another hard game.

"But we are used to being able to cope and there will be no hangover one way or another.

"In Rome we played for most of the second half with ten men and gave a tremendous account of ourselves.

"In the league we have been in great form and the win over Liverpool last week has given us confidence and belief.

"The manager has got us going and we all want to be in the team. He has competition for places and we are looking to carry on at Wigan where we left off against Liverpool last week."

Updated November 6, 2009