Steve Bruce believes Hugo Rodallega can be a huge hit for Wigan Athletic Football Club.

After agreeing a £4.5million fee with Necaxa for their Colombian international striker, the player has now been granted a work permit and should seal his move to the Latics this week.

“This is great news. The transfer is not finalised yet and the player will not be unveiled until it is, but this was the major stumbling block,” Bruce told the official club website.

"We are never comfortable as a club talking about transfers before they are finalised, because so much can potentially happen to delay a move.

"However, we have made an exception in this case because the news is in the public domain. Hugo has yet to undergo a medical but we are very optimistic about this going through.

"Like all our overseas transfers, we have worked very hard on this one. The club has sent delegations to South America to watch him and to discuss terms with club and player.

“We feel he can be a big success in England. He is strong and quick, with an eye for goal and if he is anything like the other South and Central American imports we have brought in to the club, we have netted another gem, that's for sure."