Chris Kirkland hopes to earn a new deal at Wigan Athletic.

Kirkland's fitness setback at Doncaster Rovers is the latest problem in a long line of injuries which have disrupted the 30-year-old's career.

"First of all, I'd like to regain my place at Wigan and sign a new deal," he said in the Daily Mirror. "I understand that teams are going to be suspicious, but I hope somebody will take a chance like Paul Jewell did when I came here.

"That paid off for him and the club and whoever takes me will get a player that is ready to shine again. They will get a player who is hungry to put this behind me, too.

"If there was no end in sight, I would be devastated, but I know I am nearly there. People only need to see me training to see that.

"Over the period I've been out of the team at Wigan, I have been fit. Last season, I only missed 14 training sessions. This season, I hadn't missed a single one until I got injured with Doncaster.

"People are going to laugh, but I am more happy with my body now than I ever have been. I know I'm nearly there.

"People will say, 'how can he say that after everything that has happened?', but I know I am getting there. I will get there."