Steve Bruce has backed Wigan to clinch a spot in Europe after the clubs recent good form.
Steve Bruce has backed his Wigan side to clinch a UEFA Europa spot come the end of the 2008/2009 season if the squad can continue the current good form.
Five wins from Six games has lifted the club up to 7th in the Premier League table above billionaires Manchester City, Harry Redknapp's Tottenham Hotspur and also troubled Newcastle United.
There is of course a long way to go so far this season but compared to last season it took 27 games before 28 points were amassed whereas it has only taken 19 games this season.
January will be a telling month on how far the club has come under Steve Bruce with big games against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspurs and Manchester City all to come.
Bruce said: "Anyone who has seen us will know it is no fluke we are in the top half of the division.
"Our aim is to stay there if we can. There a lot of big clubs down near the bottom so it is great for a side like ours to be punching above our weight."
"Bolton have done it (played in the UEFA Cup), Blackburn have done it. Why can't it be our turn?
"In the calendar year we have taken something like 58-60 points. It is a fantastic achievement from the players but we are not going to get carried away."
Europe is still very much an achievable outcome but safety must still be priority number one as a few defeats can see a club dragged right back into a relegation battle.
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