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Latics midfielder Ben Watson is determined to ensure he won't be 'out of sight, out of mind' during his loan spell at Queens Park Rangers.
The 24-year-old joined the Championship outfit on a four-month loan deal just before the transfer window slammed shut last week.
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez was unable to guarantee him first-team football at the DW Stadium, and sanctioned the move to keep the player match-fit.
Watson, too, was more than happy to go out on loan, and says he aims to make good use of the period between now and the New Year to play himself back into Martinez's plans.
When asked if he still saw his long-term future at Wigan, Watson told the Evening Post: "Without a doubt.
"I would imagine that there'll be people from Wigan coming down to watch me probably every week to see how I'm doing, so it's down to me to put in some good performances.
"The move wasn't really a surprise to me.
"It wasn't that I wasn't in the gaffer's plans, but I knew he wanted me to go out on loan.
"He couldn't guarantee me games at the moment, which is fair enough.
"So instead of me sitting in the stands or sitting on the bench and playing 10 minutes here and there, it was best for me to get out and play in week in, week out."
Watson only arrived at Latics in January of this year, with then-boss Steve Bruce pipping a host of clubs to sign him from Crystal Palace.
After overcoming initial injury problems, the former England Under-21 international soon settled into the side and notched goals in successive games against Sunderland and Hull in March that all-but
secured Premier League status for another campaign.
In all, Watson made 10 appearances as Latics ended the season in 11th position, although the situation changed dramatically when Bruce
departed for Sunderland during the summer.
After the arrival of Martinez and new midfielders including Mohamed Diame, Hendry Thomas and Jordi Gomez, Watson temporarily found himself on the fringes.
But he believes that a spell back in his native London can only help his long-term Latics ambitions.
Watson added: "It's frustrating when you're out of the team, because all you want to do is play football.
"But the manager picks the team and it's down to him who plays.
"There's not really a lot you can do.
"You've just got to keep plugging away, keep working hard, keep doing what you're good at and hopefully you will eventually get your
chance.
"I had options, but I'm looking forward to playing well for QPR.
"This is a club that is going places, and it's just a matter of finding some consistency in this league.
"If you can find some consistency in the Championship, you will be in and around the automatic promotion places for the Premier League.
"I've come here to prove myself again, to play games, to win games and to play well."
The 24-year-old joined the Championship outfit on a four-month loan deal just before the transfer window slammed shut last week.
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez was unable to guarantee him first-team football at the DW Stadium, and sanctioned the move to keep the player match-fit.
Watson, too, was more than happy to go out on loan, and says he aims to make good use of the period between now and the New Year to play himself back into Martinez's plans.
When asked if he still saw his long-term future at Wigan, Watson told the Evening Post: "Without a doubt.
"I would imagine that there'll be people from Wigan coming down to watch me probably every week to see how I'm doing, so it's down to me to put in some good performances.
"The move wasn't really a surprise to me.
"It wasn't that I wasn't in the gaffer's plans, but I knew he wanted me to go out on loan.
"He couldn't guarantee me games at the moment, which is fair enough.
"So instead of me sitting in the stands or sitting on the bench and playing 10 minutes here and there, it was best for me to get out and play in week in, week out."
Watson only arrived at Latics in January of this year, with then-boss Steve Bruce pipping a host of clubs to sign him from Crystal Palace.
After overcoming initial injury problems, the former England Under-21 international soon settled into the side and notched goals in successive games against Sunderland and Hull in March that all-but
secured Premier League status for another campaign.
In all, Watson made 10 appearances as Latics ended the season in 11th position, although the situation changed dramatically when Bruce
departed for Sunderland during the summer.
After the arrival of Martinez and new midfielders including Mohamed Diame, Hendry Thomas and Jordi Gomez, Watson temporarily found himself on the fringes.
But he believes that a spell back in his native London can only help his long-term Latics ambitions.
Watson added: "It's frustrating when you're out of the team, because all you want to do is play football.
"But the manager picks the team and it's down to him who plays.
"There's not really a lot you can do.
"You've just got to keep plugging away, keep working hard, keep doing what you're good at and hopefully you will eventually get your
chance.
"I had options, but I'm looking forward to playing well for QPR.
"This is a club that is going places, and it's just a matter of finding some consistency in this league.
"If you can find some consistency in the Championship, you will be in and around the automatic promotion places for the Premier League.
"I've come here to prove myself again, to play games, to win games and to play well."
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