The 20-year-old skippered the team at Newcastle in the absence of Mario Melchiot and Emile Heskey.

But he went on to sour the occasion by becoming involved in a fracas outside a nightclub in his home town Stockton-on-Tees in the early hours of the following morning.

Police handed Cattermole an £80 on-the-spot fine for the public order matter, and Latics fined him heavily on his return to training this week.

Bruce believes the England Under-21 ace will learn his lesson from the incident, and it won't deter the Wigan boss handing him the armband.
Cattermole could skipper the side against Everton at the JJB Stadium on Monday night with Melchiot and Heskey both rated only 50/50 to
recover from knee and hamstring injuries respectively.

Bruce said: "We have dealt with Lee, it's done and dusted now. I think the boy has to learn a lesson about certain areas of his home town he needs to stay away from.

"He needs to realise about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Lee had gone back there after we played Newcastle to see his family – it was the first time he had been there for a while.

"When you are involved in football, you have to learn to lead your life better and not get yourself into situations.

"The North East is a bit of a goldfish bowl – that is one of the reasons he came out of there to sign for us.

"I'm sure he'll have learned his lesson about keeping out of trouble. He will be lighter in the pocket, which always helps. Let's put it this way, I don't think he'll be able to afford a pint next week."

This incident aside, Bruce has been pleased with the way things have gone for his £3.5m summer signing from Middlesbrough.
He has only missed one league game, the goalless draw at Tottenham having been sent off against Sunderland the week before.

Bruce said: "Lee has been terrific for us on the pitch. Sometimes I forget he is only 20...he's still a young boy.

"There we were talking about all of Arsenal's youngsters the other week, and Lee was in there among them. He's been excellent for us, one of our best players.

"I just believe he has captain material written all over him. He wants to lead from the front.

"Lee has been like that since he was a kid. He was captain at Middlesbrough when he was a teenager.
"At Newcastle, he led by example on the pitch. He responded to getting the armband, although afterwards he didn't lead by example.

"It's still possible Lee could be skipper against Everton if Mario and Emile are injured, although Emile could be back.
"If we have the same players out injured, then yes, I would hand Lee the armband."

Bruce will know more about the availability or otherwise of his injured players as the weekend goes on.
The squad had the day off today before training tomorrow and Sunday.
Melchiot, Heskey, Amr Zaki and Jason Koumas 'all have a chance', according to Bruce. Zaki has been in Egypt this week, having to report to Cairo ahead of Egypt's friendly against Benin.

The striker had to have his hamstring injury assessed by the Egyptian FA's medical staff, even though he'd missed Latics' draw at Newcastle.
He didn't play in the friendly and was due back in Wigan today for further treatment.