Wigan's Emmerson Boyce salutes the efforts of in-form Arouna Kone

The Ivorian netted his sixth goal in as many outings on Saturday as Wigan secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Norwich City at the DW Stadium.

Three points on home soil were enough to lift the Latics out of the Premier League drop zone and offer them hope of pulling off another remarkable escape act.

Kone's efforts over the remainder of the campaign could go a long way to determining Wigan's fate, with it likely that he will need to add to his 12-goal return if Roberto Martinez's side are to beat the drop.

Boyce, who stood in as skipper for the Norwich win, is confident the hot-shot forward can fire the club to safety, with things starting to 'click' on the back of three successive victories.

He said: "When you're in this sort of situation, you need someone like Arouna who can score a crucial goal.

"Getting into double figures in this league is no mean feat and he's come into great form at the right time of the season, just when we needed him to.

"He's our strike weapon, and he's on fire at the moment. He's getting on the end of things just when the whole team is clicking, and long may it continue."