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Melchiot: Winning fitness race
Wigan manager Steve Bruce has confirmed that Mario Melchiot should be fit for Euro 2008.
Melchiot has been named in a 26-man Holland squad which will be trimmed to 23 by the end of the month.
The right-back had looked doubtful when he missed the final two games of the Premier League season with a groin injury.
However, he did not require an operation and Bruce is confident he will be able to line up for his country this summer.
"Mario is coming along fine and we fully expect him to be fit for Euro 2008," Bruce told the Evening Post.
"To see a Wigan player feature in that tournament would be fantastic and I'm just glad his injury wasn't as bad as we first feared."
Kilbane told to rest
Bruce has also issued an upbeat bulletin on the fitness of Kevin Kilbane, who sat out the defeat to Manchester United with a back problem.
The versatile midfielder impressed Bruce as he battled through the pain barrier but he has now been ordered to rest for the early part of the summer.
"Kevin has seen a specialist about the injury and basically it's a bit of wear and tear in his back," Bruce explained.
"It's down to his age more than anything - when you have been playing for quite a while you get injuries like this.
"He needs five or six weeks rest over the summer and hopefully we'll get him back feeling fine for pre-season training in July.
"I can't speak highly enough of the job Kevin did for me last season. Even though his natural position is on the left-side of midfield, he filled in at left-back for most of the season and did a fantastic job."
Skoko aim
Meanwhile, Josip Skoko has revealed that he plans to stay in Europe following his release from Wigan rather than return home to Australia.
"At the moment I'd prefer to stay in Europe for another year or two before heading back," he said.
"I'd prefer to sign somewhere for two or three years at this stage to shore up my future, then I'd know where I was playing for a while rather than be on the move again next year.
"I really don't want to have another season like this year, when I was sitting on the bench for long periods of time."
