Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has played down reports linking Charles N’Zogbia with a move away from the club.

N’Zogbia won his first cap for France earlier this month, but was a surprise exclusion from Roberto Mancini’s squad for their shock 4-0 hammering against Blackpool.

It has been claimed that the 24-year-old has fallen out with his manager and has requested a move, but Martinez insists that is not the case.

Speaking at a press conference today, Martinez said: “Charles is a Wigan Athletic player and that is the top and bottom.

“He has been working really hard and been training well. We will have to get used to speculation and rumours and we need to take it as a compliment when other clubs want to take our players.

“Unfortunately this is the instability the window brings to a club like ours.

“He will be working hard to play in every single game and that is what every player should be doing.

“Since he came back from international duty he has been training hard, working really well and fighting hard for his place with everyone else.

“It is rumour and speculation and something you are not going to stop.”

Martinez says N’Zogbia could return on Saturday as Wigan face a daunting visit from Barclays Premier League champions Chelsea.

Wigan are 15.00 (Full Time Result) to pull off a shock result, while Chelsea are fancied at 1.22 for the three points and it is 6.00 that the match is drawn.

The Spaniard insists that, while it is inevitable that his players will be linked with other clubs, no one will leave without adequate replacements lined up.

He said: “If we lose a player, I will make sure we are a stronger football club the day after because the structure we have put in place will be able to bring more players in.”

Martinez has already bolstered his squad in the summer window by bringing in James McArthur, Antolin Alcaraz, Ronnie Stam, Mauro Boselli and Ali Al Habsi.

He added: “We lost nine players in the summer and brought five in so, if you do the maths, we are light in numbers.

“We are starting to build a strong squad but we still need a few extra bodies for the demands of the Premier League.”

Wigan are currently 2.20 to be relegated from the Barclays Premier League 2010/11.

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Craig Cathcart has admitted that Ian Holloway’s infectious personality was key to persuading him to switch Old Trafford for Bloomfield Road.

The 21-year-old was officially unveiled by the Blackpool boss yesterday after moving from Manchester United for an undisclosed fee.

The defender has signed a three-year contract and should go straight into the team to play Wigan on Saturday. Full Time Result betting for the match has Wigan at 1.80, with Blackpool available at 5.00 to win their first ever Premier League match and the draw is 3.40.

Cathcart said that he had been impressed by Holloway who has scotched rumours he was about to resign by committing his future to the club.

“I’m sure all of the players love him because I’ve only known him a few days and he is growing on me a lot,” Cathcart said.

“He is one of the main reasons I have come here. He wanted me to come and he is passionate about what he wants to do here.”

Cathcart had risen through the ranks at Old Trafford but never managed to make a senior appearance, and he is now hoping for a run in Blackpool’s starting XI that will also boost his chances of winning a first cap for Northern Ireland.

“At this stage of my career I need to be playing football matches, so hopefully coming here will give me the opportunity to play a lot of first-team games,” he said.

“I haven’t had a cap so far at full international level, so if I’m in the team every week in the Premier League then it is going to be hard for the manager not to look at me and hopefully he will put me in the squad.”

The defender feels that it is important that Blackpool enjoy themselves in the Premier League if they want to defy the odds and avoid relegation.

“There is no pressure on us and we are the underdogs again, like Blackpool were last season,” Cathcart said.

“You saw what happened last year where there was no pressure on the team – enjoy your football and you never know what can happen.

“The target for me is the same as for everybody that will be playing with me – to keep this team in the Premier League and hopefully kick on from there.”

Blackpool are 1.25 to be relegated from the Premier League 2010/11.

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Wigan winger Charles N’Zogbia has revealed that the club will not stand in his way if a bigger club wants to acquire his services.

N’Zogbia joined Wigan in January 1999, when he angered fans of Newcastle by voicing his desire to play at a higher level.

And the 24-year-old is keen to take another step upwards in his footballing career.

“When I came here, I was in a period where I wanted to relaunch myself,” N’Zogbia told L’Equipe. “Today I’m at Wigan but if tomorrow a good club with great aims contacts me, I am open.

“I have talked about it with my bosses. They won’t put a spoke in the wheel.”

Despite their apparent willingness to sell Wigan will still hope to have N’Zogbia available for their first game of the season at home to Blackpool on 14th August.

Full Time Result betting has Wigan at 1.80, while Blackpool can be backed at 4.33 and the draw is 3.25.

Following the entire France World Cup squad being suspended for their friendly against Norway next month, N’Zogbia has been selected by new coach Laurent Blanc for the match.

Should he win his first cap, it would put an end to talk of him playing for England.

He continued: “They talked about me (playing for England) but for me it’s just something in the press.

“Until the moment someone at the Federation comes and talks to me about it face to face, I haven’t even asked myself the question.

“In my head I’m French. There’s no reflection to make.”

Wigan are 3.25 to be relegated from the Barclays Premier League 2010/11.

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