Steve Bruce believes he can take little Wigan Athletic into Europe.

He said: "The chairman is an honest man and a realist and getting in the top six would be an unbelievable achievement.

"At Birmingham we were on the verge of doing that but failed to win any of our last eight games and fell away.

"There is always a surprise in the league. Bolton have done it, Blackburn have done it, so why not Wigan.

"We are lying in eighth position in the table if you take into account points taken from December 1. That's what keeps driving me on."