Jewell is top boss again

Last updated : 03 January 2003 By Paul Farrington
Jewell: Manager of the month... again
The Wigan Athletic boss has been named Nationwide Manager of the Month for the second month running and will pick up the December award on Monday lunchtime at Wrightington Country Club.

It's a rare feat for a manager to win successive gongs but sponsors Nationwide admitted they had no choice but to honour Jewell's efforts.

Media and communications officer Chris Hull said: "We usually like to share this award around but the run Wigan are on makes it impossible to ignore. It's great credit to Paul and everyone at Wigan, and to have registered four consecutive league wins for two months running is quite an achievement.

"Their form has been phenomenal and therefore there was only really one place where the Second Division award could go."

December saw Worthington Cup and FA Cup wins over Fulham and Luton together with league victories against Oldham, Huddersfield, Port Vale and Swindon.

The only blot on the landscape was the 2-0 loss to Blackburn in the Worthington Cup quarter-finals.

Last month also saw Latics create new club records for consecutive league wins and clean sheets.

After a day-off yesterday following the hectic Christmas schedule, Jewell and his squad were back in training today ahead of tomorrow's FA Cup third round game at Stoke.

And the boss hopes Latics carry their excellent league form into the Britannia Stadium clash having got 2003 off to a winning start against Notts County on New Year's Day.

Jewell was running the rule over his players on the practice ground to see how much three games in a week had taken out of their legs.

He might opt to make the odd change to freshen the side up with Jason de Vos one player who might possibly be given a well deserved rest.

The skipper only played on New Year's Day after passing a late fitness test on his injured foot and has also suffered other bumps and bruises in recent games.

Striker Andy Liddell looks likely to get another start after playing 77 minutes of the Notts County game in a bid to recover peak fitness after his six-week lay-off with a torn calf muscle.

Jewell said: "The Stoke game is a pressure-off cup tie for us before the massive league game at Bristol City next week. We might rest or two tomorrow because the league is our holy grail.

"Of course we want to win at Stoke but if there are any doubts over players' fitness, we will leave them out and give them a rest."

One player who won't need to ask directions to tomorrow's game is Latics midfielder Tony Dinning. He spent two months on loan at Stoke at the end of last season, helping them win promotion to the First Division through the play-offs.

Article from the Wigan Evening Post