GABRIEL OBERTAN has returned to England after signing a deal with Wigan Athletic until the end of the season.
The 27-year-old winger has signed on a free transfer, after he was released by Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala despite joining them in the summer.
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The deal is subject to international clearance, but Latics boss Warren Joyce believes the Frenchman can be a real asset to squad.
Joyce knows the player well having previously been the Manchester United reserves team boss, a side that Obertan spent two years at.
He said: “He adds great experience to the squad and offers us another option in the wide areas. He’s a top professional with great quality.”
Obertan said of the deal: “It’s great to be here. Warren Joyce called me and was a big part of my decision to join the club. I’m glad to be here and can’t wait to get started.
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“I worked with Warren when we were together at Manchester United and he’s a coach who has always pushed me. I respect him a lot and hopefully I’ll repay him with my performances this season.
“Warren didn’t lie to me and he told me the situation the club were in. I’m up for it and hopefully we’ll move away from the bottom of the table.
“I wanted to come back to England to show my true potential. All the ingredients for that to happen are here with the right coach and a young team.”
Wigan are in danger of being relegated to the EFL League One as they sit in 22nd place, winning just six out of 27 league games.
They are the division's lowest goalscorers having found the back of the net just 24 times, and hope Obertan can provide some Premier League quality in the final third.
However they can't expect a natural born finisher, in eight games at Anzhi he only found the back of the net once.
In 76 games for Newcastle spanning five years he only scored three times, and netted just once in 28 appearances for the Red Devils.
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