Wigan Athletic midfielder Michael Brown believes competition for places will help the club stay up. Manager Steve Bruce has swooped to sign the likes of Wilson Palacios, Erik Edman, Erik Hagen and Marlon King since arriving and the Latics' form has improved.

"If you look around the team now, I don't think anyone's place is secure in any position," Brown told the club's official website.

"We all understand that if we drop our performance levels, there's a very good player snapping at our heals to get in the team, which is the way it should be."