Southgate is determined to see his side improve on a frustrating and toothless campaign on the road last year which produced just 13 goals and two wins.

Now he is banking on the injection of pace from new signings Tuncay Sanli and Jeremie Aliadiere making Boro more formidable opponents.

A further forward, Mido, is soon to be added to the fray once the Egyptian has passed his medical on Teesside and obtained a work permit, but it will be next week at the earliest before Middlesbrough fans see their new $15million striker in action.

Instead, Southgate is likely to go to the JJB stadium tonight with a similar line-up to the one which was beaten 2-1 at home by Blackburn on Saturday.

There was an element of bad luck about that opening-day defeat, and Southgate is calling for a more positive approach tonight.

He said: "There's no doubt about it. We need to score more goals away from home this season.

"The statistics from last season tell the story. We weren't good enough away from home and that's one area where we are looking for the biggest improvement.

"Our goals-scored tally was very low and we know we can do much better. It should help that we have brought more pace into the side and this might bring more goals, but overall performances away from home have to be better this season."

Ironically, one of Boro's two away wins in 2006-07 came at Wigan in their final game on the road. A goal from Mark Viduka, who has since moved to neighbours Newcastle, was enough to separate the two sides.

Boro were comfortable winners that day, despite the close scoreline, and Southgate has warned his players to expect a stiffer test tonight.

He said: "We prepare to win every game we play, and tonight is no different.

"But we know that Wigan have brought in some new faces and they will be keen to impress the fans in their first home game.

"Wigan are very direct and they have a lot of power in their forward line, with the likes of Emile Heskey, so it will be a test.

"But we are not thinking about what Wigan might do. We have to go there to play our football and concentrate on our own game tonight.

"Basically we have to keep improving. We played very well against Blackburn on Saturday and didn't get the rewards we deserved.

"We won 13 corners and put them under a lot of pressure, and created good chances. We have to step up on that effort and get something from this game."

Southgate, without four centre-backs because of injury, has no new problems to deal with, although he will still be without former Charlton right-back Luke Young, who is having treatment for a thigh strain suffered in training last week.

Young could be back at Fulham on Saturday, although Southgate is prepared to wait a little longer for Mido, who has not played any games so far this summer.