The Latics captain cites Sunday 11th May as the best example of the former Manchester United defender's irrepressible desire to triumph.

That day saw Bruce welcome his old manager Sir Alex Ferguson to the JJB Stadium in the final match of the 2007/08 season. Wigan had already secured their Barclays Premier League status the previous weekend with a 2-0 home win over Aston Villa.

Cynics suggested Bruce, who enjoyed nine successful seasons under Ferguson at United, could lend his old manager a hand by giving United an easy match so they could clinch the title.

fly back

But Melchiot said: "I definitely knew he wanted to win that game. I was injured that day and he told me I had to be here. He made me fly back from Holland.

"I was trying to get ready for the Euros (Euro 2008) and he said to me that just for the spirit of the team he wanted his captain to be there.

"If your manager calls you have got to be back. When he calls me I'm there, finished. I couldn't really say to him 'I can't come back', because I knew what he wanted.

"The only thing I can say is he's a winner and he's a person who tries to make sure that all the players feel comfortable around him. That's probably two of the biggest parts of him. No matter what happens, he always wants to win."