PLAYER PROFILE

Paul Scharner

Position: Defence

Height: 6'3

Weight: 11st 2lbs

Date of Birth: 1980-03-11 Scheibbs, Austria

Paul Scharner

Austria centre-back Paul Scharner agreed terms for a three-and-a-half-year contract with Wigan Athletic in December 2005.

The 25-year-old is now looking forward to testing himself in England.

Scharner told the club's official website: "Wigan is a club in a great position with a big ambition. They want to be one of the best clubs in the country and that is exactly the same as me.

"To play in the Premiership is a dream for me, because as a player you want to test yourself against the best.

"When I heard about Wigan, then I met the manager, it was an easy decision and I am really looking forward to starting with the club in January."

In his first game for the Latics, a Carling Cup semi final first leg tie against Arsenal, Scharner scored the only goal in a 1-0 win for Paul Jewell's men.

He continued this success in the 2006/07 season as he scored three goals in 26 games, and after another impressive campaign in 2007/08 he is a vital part of the set-up at Wigan.