Wigan star Paul Scharner has said the club are determined to tie him to a new contract in the summer and that he will be happy to sign.

Scharner, 28, joined the Lancashire club for £2.5 million in 2005 and is contracted until summer 2009.

"[Manager] Steve Bruce and myself have had a meeting and he told me he wants to talk in the summer with a view to extending my contract," Scharner told the Wigan Evening Post.

"That's fine by me: I said 'let's finish the season first and concentrate on keeping the club in the Premier League'."

The cultured Austrian, who can play either in midfield or at centre-half, was linked heavily with a move to Fulham in the mid-season transfer window.

He added that he is hopeful of returning to the Austria side ahead of Euro 2008 after two years in the international wilderness following an argument with the country's FA.

"I said things about the professionalism of the Austrian FA," he said. "Things have changed, maybe not with the FA, but I have changed.

"I'm preparing myself for a call-up, doing some extra training sessions, so I'll be ready if needed.

"If I don't get called up I will go on holiday - simple as that."

The Latics face Chelsea on Monday eight points clear of the relegation zone with five matches remaining after a turnaround in fortunes under Bruce, who left Birmingham in November.

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Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport