Boyce focused on bouncing back as Wigan face Man City in the Community Shield
Wigan defender Emmerson Boyce insists he does not feel a lesser player after relegation and that facing Manchester United in the Community Shield gives the team a chance to prove they still have Premier League quality.
The Latics return to Wembley for the third time in as many months as FA Cup winners to face last season's champions on Sunday.
Boyce is adamant there has been no time to mourn the loss of top-flight status after eight years as a change of manager - Owen Coyle replacing Roberto Martinez - and the arrival of several new players has brought a renewed confidence.
That was reflected in their 4-0 win over Barnsley on the opening day of the Sky Bet Championship season and they head to the capital in good spirits.
"Because we have so many different players here we haven't had time to think about relegation," said Boyce.
"We know what we need to do. The chairman has told us what he expects and the manager is the same.
"As players we want to get back in the Premier League and the new players would only have come here if they thought the club would go up.
"I don't feel less of a player. We all have our own personal goals to achieve and that is to be back in the Premier League.
"To play against Manchester United so early will show us how far we need to go to put our mark down in the Championship.
"It will be a massive game to show we can compete at that level. There is no real pressure. This is how we are going to test ourselves to see how good we actually are against the champions of England."
Source : http://www.football.co.uk/wigan_athletic/boyce_focused_on_bouncing_back_as_wigan_face_man_city_in_the_community_shield_rss4362231.shtml