Steve Bruce will be hoping to start a good run in the Carling Cup after admitting league success is now an impossibility for clubs like Wigan.Indeed, Bruce believes a charge to the final in one of this season's knockout competitions - emulating Portsmouth and Cardiff's run to last season's FA Cup showpiece - could be the best sides like his own can hope for.

The former Birmingham boss believes the days when smaller clubs could challenge for the title are now at an end, leaving Wigan, and a host of their Premier League rivals, fighting for scraps.

Bruce saw his Latics side outperform title hopefuls Chelsea at the JJB Stadium on Sunday but they still finished with nothing after Portugal star Deco fired home the only goal of the game in the third minute.

And the arrival of the former Barcelona midfielder at Stamford Bridge in the summer only served to underline the big four's unparalleled resources.

"When I first won the title with Manchester United, I think Norwich were the team we had to beat to it," said Bruce.

"That will never happen again now. I don't think you'll ever have a smaller team mounting a challenge."

Bruce believes the top flight now resembles the Scottish Premier League - a division whose biggest failing is often perceived to be a lack of competitiveness outside the Old Firm.

"We used to mock Rangers and Celtic didn't we?" recalled Bruce. "But the gap here now is enormous, it's huge. Outside the top four it will become more and more difficult.

"They just add two pieces a year don't they? I know Manchester United haven't really bought this year but last season they bought four and spent £70million after winning the league.

"How do you compete with that? What you do is try and compete and hope you catch them on an off day.

"The top teams only lose two or three a season. That's what the Premier League is about but I think there are three divisions in it now. It is very difficult to compete."

Wigan should have a virtually full-strength squad to choose from for the visit of Notts County, with only long-term absentee Erik Edman and goalkeeper Chris Kirkland likely to be unavailable.

Kirkland went down with a back problem in the warm-up ahead of the Chelsea match and Mike Pollitt should continue to deputise, while Ryan Taylor could play for the first time this season.

County manager Ian McParland, meanwhile, could be without key midfielder Adam Nowland.

Nowland suffered a hamstring injury in the 1-1 draw with Luton at the weekend, and McParland said: "It was disappointing for Adam because he was running the midfield.

"I hope it isn't too bad but it is a major disappointment because he has been doing so well for us."

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