Late fitness test for Melchiot Updated: January 29, 2010, 4:41 PM UK Wigan could be without captain Mario Melchiot for the visit of Everton in the Barclays Premier League. Melchiot had to come off with a neck problem in the Latics' 2-1 defeat at Blackburn on Wednesday and faces a late fitness test. Chris Kirkland is still recovering from the collarbone injury that he sustained in training last week, so Serbian loanee Vladimir Stojkovic is likely to continue in goal. Fellow goalkeeper Richard Kingson is still at the African Nations Cup with Ghana, but otherwise, Roberto Martinez has a full squad to choose from. Boss Roberto Martinez feels it was "only a matter of time" before Everton hit top gear and put their early-season difficulties behind them. The Toffees travel to the DW Stadium unbeaten in eight Barclays Premier League games, a run that has seen them surge up the table to ninth place and brought about renewed hopes of a challenge for Europe. It has been some turnaround for David Moyes' side, who were hampered by a string of injuries at the start of the campaign and found themselves only two places and three points above the relegation zone in November after a 2-0 defeat in the Merseyside derby. Their dramatic improvement since then has come as no surprise to Martinez and the Spaniard admits his team will have a tough task tomorrow to halt Everton's momentum. "I think from Everton's point of view, the surprise was that they couldn't hit that sort of good form,'' Martinez said. "You look at the squad and players that they have got and they have good experience, have been working together for a long time and they are an exciting group of players, so I think it was only a matter of time before they hit that form. "Probably they are coming here to the DW at the wrong time (for us) as they are in the middle of a very good run. "But when we play at home we feel that we can beat anyone and compete against anyone, and that's going to be the case on Saturday.'' Everton could be without midfielder Mikel Arteta. The Spanish star has picked up a groin strain in training, having only just returned from almost a year out with knee damage. He has made two appearances as a substitute since his comeback. Tony Hibbert and Jack Rodwell are still out with long-term injuries, while Ayegbeni Yakubu and Joseph Yobo are not due back from the African Nations Cup until next week. Everton look to be back on track for a crack at qualification for Europe, standing nine points behind fifth-placed Liverpool with a game in hand. Moyes said: "This is really what I had hoped for when the season started, having finished fifth last term and got to the FA Cup final. "There have been obvious reasons why we did not start the season so well, but I don't want to use injuries as an excuse because everybody has them. "But when you are without as many players as we have been over the months, it is bound to affect your performances. "I never had any doubt that I had a squad good enough to get us out of the trouble we were in before Christmas, but I did doubt that the players I was having to use week after week because I had no options, would be able to handle it. They were magnificent for me and they were on their knees at one stage having played so many games. "But now we seem to be coming out the other side with players back fit, looking in better shape. Now we are aiming to have a better second half to the season.'' http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=270098&cc=4716&league=ENG.1 --

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