Former Wigan boss Chris Hutchings believes Steve Bruce is the right man to save the Latics from Premier League relegation.

It will be Bruce's second spell at Wigan following a brief period at the end of the 2000/01 season and Hutchings acknowledges his successor does face a difficult task.

"It is difficult, a couple of years back he was at the club for six to eight games," Hutchings told the Radio Five Live.

"So people at the club already know him, he's got a good track record of getting people up and this year is going to be a big test for him.

"But you have to kind of hang in there and he has got a good squad of players.

"When he looks at the Wigan squad and the Birmingham squad he'll maybe think the Wigan squad is slightly stronger."