Martinez right to rest me, says Moses

The Wigan winger Victor Moses has defended manager Roberto Martinez's decision to rest him at the weekend.

The 21-year-old was left on the bench until the second half of the Latics 2-0 home defeat against Swansea having returned from making his Nigeria debut in Rwanda. Chairman Dave Whelan publicly questioned Martinez's selection, which also saw Mohamed Diame and Hugo Rodallega start on the bench. But Moses said the Spaniard had made the right decision.

"Obviously it's never nice when you're not playing, but it's the manager's decision and I was feeling tired after being away with Nigeria," he said.

"I'd done a lot of travelling in a short space of time and it's not an ideal way to prepare for a football match. The fans probably don't realise that travelling so far for a game in midweek really does take it out of you, out of your legs especially. A couple of the other lads were the same – only getting back on Friday evening – and when you're going out with tired legs, that's when you're risking getting injuries – which the gaffer is trying to prevent.

"If you're away from the club between Monday and Friday it's hard to be fully focused on the game, so I understood the decision."

With 11 matches to save their Premier League future Moses believes the players will produce a response after another disappointment at the DW Stadium which left them rooted to the bottom of the table.

"What happened last week was part and parcel of the game, but the gaffer knows what he's doing and we'll be aiming to bounce back at Norwich," he said. We weren't on our game last weekend but it's happened now and it's up to us to bounce back and I'm sure we will."

Captain Gary Caldwell admitted the players let down themselves and fans with the weekend's performance but insists it will spur them on for the remainder of the season.

"There's going to be blows between now and the end of the season, it's all about how we react to the set-backs," he said. "We have to take it on the chin and it has to make us stronger as a group and as individuals. It has to give us the determination to improve and get better as the season comes to an end; we've done it in the past and I'm sure we can do it again.

"We went through similar experiences last season and came out victorious at the end, so we have to draw on those memories again this time."

Meanwhile, Zak Whitbread would love to extend his stay at Norwich beyond the season, as the American centre-back aims to keep the Canaries in the Premier League.

The Texan-born Liverpool Academy graduate has impressed at the heart of the Norwich rearguard, combining well alongside both Daniel Ayala and Elliott Ward as Paul Lambert's defensive options have been hit by injuries.

Whitbread signed from Millwall in January 2010, but saw his own progress hampered by a series of fitness problems as the Canaries won a second successive promotion.

Following some 14 appearances in the top flight as Norwich sit comfortably in mid-table, Whitbread hopes to be given the chance to extend his stay in Norfolk when his current deal expires in the summer.

"I have just been a bit disappointed I couldn't play a few more games than what I have, but it's a great club, a great set-up, going in the right direction," Whitbread said. "I am just enjoying playing the games and if anything comes of it then that will be great.

"There have been no talks and I am not really worried about it. I am not focusing on it too much. I am just back from injury and I have just got to concentrate on playing."

Whitbread, who was brought up in Runcorn, represented the United States Under-20s team at the 2003 World Youth Championship, but despite one call-up to the senior squad for the friendlies against Argentina and Paraguay in March 2011, which he had to withdraw through injury, the centre-back has not yet been involved in further internationals.