Erik Hagen became Steve Bruce's fifth and final January window capture signing for the club late on deadline day.

The towering defender joins on loan from Russian Club Zenit St. Petersburg to bolster the Latics defence for the remainder of the 2007-08 season.

Hagen, who operates mostly as a centre half, has played 24 times for his country and is a regular member of the current Norway set-up, as well as amassing UEFA Cup experience in Russia. He comes with a reputation for being a tough-tackling, no-nonsense defender and Latics manager Steve Bruce is delighted he has come on board:

"Erik is a player who lives to defend," he said,

"He is an experienced international and is no stranger to the big occasion. He is aggressive, fantastic in the air and can read the game very well. He is a leader on the field and he will add tremendous competition at the back for us. I wouldn't have brought him here unless I thought he had the attributes to be a hit in the Premier League."

The big defender also holds the honour of becoming the first Norwegian player to play in Russia.