Mauro Boselli and Wigan Athletic

Wigan Athletic are to turn to Mauro Boselli as they launch another improbable survival mission.

In April 2010, Mauro Boselli was linked with signing for Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea.

That summer he did make it to the North West of England, signing for Roberto Martinez' Wigan Athletic side.

It was an outstanding season in his native Argentina with Estudiantes, playing alongside Juan Sebastien Veron, which saw him earn a move to the Premier League, scoring 31 goals in 49 games.

It was form which saw him earn an international call-up, and it seemed the footballing world was at his feet.

If six months later the dream had turned sour, then 12 months later it was back to square one.

He only spent half a season with Wigan, a torrid spell which saw him fail to score in the eight appearances he made for the club. By the end his confidence was shot, and a missed penalty did not help matters either.

He was shipped out on loan to Genoa in Serie A, where he did get off the mark for the season, but his goal tally ended at two.

At the start of 2011 he was loaned back to Estudiantes for the season in a bid to rediscover his confidence, and Wigan got by without him.

Even so, the club's top scorer last season was Franco di Santo with just seven goals, with the club's next centre forward was the recently departed Hugo Rodallega who bagged just two.

The Latics survived thanks to a superb helping of goals from midfield, with winger Victor Moses scoring six and Jordi Gomez five.

But with Wigan in need of a goalscorer, Roberto Martinez is wisely preparing to give Boselli another go.

Boselli has spoken of how the manager has been in regular contact with him and a constant source of encouragement, and the Argentine is now with Wigan on their pre-season training camp in Austria.

At 27 he is still at an age where he should be at his peak. Now more than any Wigan player he has a point to prove. Roberto Martinez has said the striker has a 'clean slate' and while success may not be instant, if he can reach a target of 10 goals this season, a modest return at most clubs, he will become a belated yet unlikely success story.

What are your expectations of Boselli this season?

Dan Coombs

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Dan Coombs is a writer who is keen to embrace the internet revolution. He first started writing for us in June 2011 and commenced his new role as Sports Editor in February 2012.

As a trained journalist he has met famous faces from Mr T to Boris Johnson. He once featured in an England World Cup music video too, but it did not make the charts.

He grew up wanting to be a Formula 1 driver, but it looks like this dream has passed him by. Instead, he hopes you enjoy reading his writing on our site, as we seek to debate the day's sporting hot topics.