International break comes at right time for Wigan Athletic pair

Latics are now without a fixture until the trip to Brentford on Saturday week, by which time centre-back Dan Burn and midfielder Darron Gibson should be back in the fold.Burn hasn’t kicked a ball in anger this term after sustaining a foot injury in the final pre-season friendly at Rangers in July.Gibson, meanwhile, sustained a hamstring problem during his Latics debut on the opening day of the campaign against Sheffield Wednesday.But both are making good progress behind the scenes, and assistant boss Leam Richardson says the fortnight’s break from league combat has come at the right time for them.“It’s still daily with Dan,” revealed Richardson.“Fingers crossed after the international break we should obviously be a lot closer, and we’ll expect him back within that time-frame.“But with those types of injuries you’ve always got to assess it daily, and we’ll be sure to do that.“It’s exactly the same with Darron, we’re taking it day by day.“They’re both improving all the time, and fingers crossed when we return from the international break they’ll be featuring in some sort.“You’re obviously desperate to get your good players back into the fold, it gives the manager a good headache so to speak.”Richardson also expects striking new-boy Joe Garner - who came on for his debut at the weekend in the dying seconds of the 1-0 win over Rotherham -b to use the international break topush his body closer to full fitness.“Joe’s worked so tirelessly hard since he’s been here with the fitness coaches and the sports scientists to get to where he is,” added Richardson.“He’s finally there and it was great to see him out there on the pitch.“Competition for places is what you’re after, it’s great, it’s healthy, and it’s what we have here.”