Wigan Athletic have signed goalkeeper Chris Kirkland on a six-month loan from Liverpool that could become a permanent move from January, Wigan said on Tuesday.


Signed from Coventry by former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier for 6 million pounds ($11.03 million) in August 2001, Kirkland has been tipped as a potential England goalkeeper but his career has been blighted by a succession of injuries.


The 25-year-old spent much of last season on loan to West Bromwich Albion, now relegated to the second division, and broke his finger in March. Kirkland missed out on Sven-Goran Eriksson's World Cup squad.

"Chris is a top quality goalkeeper, he is a very imposing figure who can command his box, and he combines that with a tremendous shot-stopping ability," Wigan manager Paul Jewell said in a statement.
"At 25 he still hasn't reached his prime yet as a keeper, I think, and he has the potential to go on and have a great career in the game."

Source: Reuters