Wigan striker Hugo Rodallega could again be missing in his club's fight against relegation when they take on Liverpool.
Martinez wants team to start taking chances in front of goal
Wigan striker Hugo Rodallega could again be missing in his club's fight against relegation when they take on Liverpool at Anfield.
The DW Stadium outfit's all-time Premier League top-scorer missed the recent 1-1 draw with West Brom due to a knee problem and remains doubtful.
Having seen his Wigan side suffer a season-long problem of failing to convert chances, manager Roberto Martinez wants Rodallega back in his team but it is not certain.
Martinez said: "Hugo is recovering from a little soft tissue problem in his knee.
"It will be touch and go for Saturday and probably it is a little too close but he is working hard. He is a really fit boy and he could easily recover quicker than we expect."
Frustrated
The Latics have lost only one of their past six games in the Premier League but have also taken maximum points just once in that sequence and are currently 19th, separated from the bottom of the table by goal difference alone with nine fixtures left to play.
They go into Saturday's match at Liverpool three points from safety and in urgent need of developing a knack for securing wins rather than draws if they are to avoid relegation.
Their past two contests - an away clash with Norwich and last weekend's home match against West Brom - have been typical examples of Martinez's side's recent habit of dominating play yet failing to fully capitalise, with both games finishing 1-1.
Martinez has been left frustrated, but is typically focusing on the positives, as he said of the past two matches: "I have mixed feelings.
"I think we have been very good, if not perfect, in many areas of our performances, but if you don't get the three points - because football is about winning games - you cannot have that satisfaction, or feel the real football happiness that you should have after a very good performance.
Dominance
"We need to be a little bit more relaxed in front of goal and get rid of that anxiety of wanting to win so much, which sometimes doesn't allow you to make the right decision in front of goal.
"But that has been the only little thing missing - our performance level has been good enough to get full points in each of the last six matches apart from one (a home defeat to Swansea)."
Asked if he felt his players had been wasteful in front of goal, Martinez said: "We have been as a team, yes.
"But I just feel the dominance we have had in our performances has been reflected in the number of chances we have created.
"You have to take those chances - in football you have to win games."
