South Korean international Cho Won-hee is finding it difficult to obtain a work permit to finalise a deal with Wigan Athletic. The 25-year old has agreed to a deal with the English Premier League after impressing on trial but is unable to sign until he is granted a work permit.

Cho has failed to play the required 75% of international matches in the past two years due to injury but Latics boss Steve Bruce said the club will do everything they can to secure his services.

"We have known all about him because he has played in the Korean team, which is a very decent team, and he is typically Korean in terms of his athleticism and his work-rate," said Bruce.

"The problem we have got is the work permit criteria because, unfortunately, he missed a big chunk of the international games.

"About ten months ago they had six qualifying games in the space of a month and he missed the lot of them because of injury.

"We have weighed that up and will put our case to them on Monday and hope we can get him in them.

"It (the criteria) stands in our way because it would be a damn sight easier without it.

"There are rules and we have to abide by them but it has become a bit of a problem."