AT the start of the season, Adam Forshaw was hoping to finish the campaign celebrating promotion to the Premier League. Eight months on, and his ambitions have not changed. It’s just the bit in between that did not quite go to plan.

Having finished last season as one of the most highly-rated players in League One thanks to his input into Brentford’s successful promotion campaign, the midfielder secured a much sought-after move to Wigan Athletic, who were expected to be challenging at the top of the table after missing out in the semi-finals of the play-offs last May.

Suffice to say things did not go to plan, for either him or his employers. Wigan are currently on their third manager of the campaign and appear certain to be spending next season in League One. Forshaw, with a record of one goal in 17 appearances for the Latics, was unable to do much to check the malaise.

Yet just as he appeared destined to be part of a relegation battle, his fortunes changed for the better in January when Middlesbrough shelled out £2m to add him to their ranks.

Suddenly, he was thrust into the heart of the promotion mix, and while he has been forced to bide his time for a run in the Boro team as Aitor Karanka has preferred Grant Leadbitter and Adam Clayton at the heart of midfield, his performances in this week’s wins over Rotherham and Wolves were key factors in ensuring the Teessiders remain within two points of top spot with three games remaining.

“When I signed for Wigan, I thought getting into the Premier League was the aim,” said Forshaw. “I thought I was going to be involved at the top of the table, and everything seemed rosy at the time. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be, but now I’ve got my chance here and it’s great. I really am enjoying this because I know how I felt five months ago.

“It was hard at Wigan. I probably can’t pinpoint one specific moment, but when Uwe Rosler got the sack was difficult. Everyone knows he was good for me, and I felt like I was just starting to do okay in the team when he went.

“When he got the sack, it maybe upset the rhythm a little bit and it’s obvious it didn’t work out for Malky Mackay after that. He was a really nice guy and he tried to do his own things, but for one reason or another, it just didn’t work.

“It just went from bad to worse to be honest, although you can’t really put your finger on what went wrong because there are a lot of good people and players at the club.”

That is all in the past now, and while Wigan slide inexorably towards League One, Middlesbrough’s players are gearing up for tomorrow night’s showdown with Norwich, a game that is likely to go a long way towards determining whether either side is able to claim a top-two finish.

Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Wolves guaranteed that Boro will have a play-off place at worst come the end of the season, but there is a shared determination within the Teessiders’ ranks to claim automatic promotion and thus avoid the end-of-season shootout.

“We have the safety of knowing we’re definitely in the play-offs,” said Forshaw. “But it doesn’t stop now. We’ve got three cup finals and the lads are full of confidence going into Friday.

“I think before I came here, at the start of the season, the play-offs were probably the aim. But as the season has gone on, and after I came here, then the top two has definitely become the main focus – and it still is.

“Norwich are one of our closest rivals, going for the top two positions. Everyone knows how big a game the next one is, but if we prepare right and go into it like we did against Wolves, then we should be really confident.”

Whether Forshaw is part of tomorrow’s game remains to be seen, with Leadbitter available again after serving a two-match suspension.

It would be a major surprise if the skipper was left on the bench, but having been outplayed at both Bournemouth and Watford in the last month, there is a school of thought that suggests Karanka would be wise to play Leadbitter, Clayton and Forshaw together in a 4-3-3 formation in an attempt to shore up the midfield.

“I’m just here to help the team out,” said Forshaw. “It’s not about me and it’s not about Grant. Grant has been brilliant all season, but hopefully the manager knows that if I’m needed, he can count on me again.

“It’s not about me though, it’s about the team, and if I’m selected again or if anyone else is selected, we’ll all be pulling together to try to get to where we want to be next year.”