The two sides, who are due to meet at the DW Stadium on Saturday, have vastly different recruitment policies. Aston Villa counterpart Martin O'Neill, backed by American owner Randy Lerner, can afford to pay the premium attached to British and Irish players. In the summer he recruited three Englishmen in Stewart Downing, Stephen Warnock and Fabian Delph, a Welshman in James Collins and Republic of Ireland international Richard Dunne at a combined cost of £34million. Martinez, by contrast, spent a total of £7.2million on young Scottish-born Irish prospect James McCarthy, Spaniards Jordi Gomez and Antonio Amaya, Honduran Hendry Thomas, Trinidad and Tobago international Jason Scotland and Frenchman Mohamed Diame. The Latics boss admits the bottom line is finance, which could make the difference in Villa breaking into the top four this season. "You need money and time to break into the top four," said Martinez, who has half a dozen British players in his first-team squad, half the number O'Neill has. "You look at the number of British players Martin has in the squad and that has got a huge price. "But it is fantastic to be able to do that. In football when you haven't got the money you have to be creative. "What is important is that you can bring in fresh players at the right moment in their career to take the club forward. "Without money you need a bit more time, you need to touch different markets to get players that will make a difference. "But what Martin has achieved is fantastic, a refreshing example for all clubs in the Premier League. "There are no two ways about it. You need a core of British players and that helps the foreign players. "I've been a foreign player in a British dressing room and the first thing you look for is a bit of guidance and that comes from the core of British players you have. "That is important but how many you need depends on the dynamics of the dressing room but getting a happy balance is important. "We are playing in a strong, British way, and you need those ingredients in the dressing room." Wigan have failed to live up to expectations having destroyed O'Neill's side on the opening day of the season. They are one of only two clubs - Liverpool becoming the other last week - to win at Villa Park this season. Martinez knows it will be even tougher this time around. "It was a good performance on the day. Liverpool are the only other team to beat Villa at their place and, believe me, you have to be perfect to beat a team like Aston Villa," said the Spaniard. "Now it is no different. They are still in a great moment, are involved in two cup competitions and they have been flying high in the Premier League. "I don't think there is a good or bad moment to play a good side. They have got great strength in their squad and world-class players. "They are very well balanced and organised and are a strong group who have been working together for a long time. "With the pace and counter-attacking ability they have it should be a well stretched game between two teams who play football in the right manner. "I think it will be more down to us. If we can be as good as we have shown at times in the first half of the season then we will give them a tough test - if we show our worst it is going to be very difficult."
