Michael Owen provided England boss Steve McClaren with the perfect tonic when he headed home a late winner to end Newcastle's Tyneside goal drought.
McClaren was at St James' Park to watch his leading scorer ahead of the forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia and, for much of the afternoon, it looked like being a frustrating day for the £17million man.
Owen passed up four glorious opportunities to open the scoring against 10-man Wigan, who had Kevin Kilbane sent off for two bookable offences just after the break.
However, he made no mistake with three minutes remaining when substitute Obafemi Martins crossed to the near post and he timed his run to perfection to head past Chris Kirkland and snatch the points.
Shola Ameobi rose to the challenge of replacing Alan Shearer as Newcastle launched the new Premiership campaign with a hard-fought victory over Wigan.
The 24-year-old fired home the winning goal on 64 minutes to hand Glenn Roeder's men three points just as it looked as though they had surrendered at least two of them.
Skipper Scott Parker had headed the Magpies into a 38th-minute lead, but Newcastle's defensive frailty struck once again 14 minutes after the break as Lee McCulloch levelled.
But with his side struggling, Ameobi converted after Chris Kirkland could only block Charles N'Zogbia's stinging drive to claim victory in front of a crowd of 51,569.
Newcastle's unlikely late charge for Europe gathered pace as skipper Alan Shearer grabbed a double to kill off Wigan.
A 27th-minute penalty and a second goal on 67 minutes took the 35-year-old's tally for the season to 13 ahead of Monday's trip to relegated neighbours Sunderland, where he will hope to sign off that particular rivalry in style.
But more importantly, the goals helped to secure a third successive Premiership victory which took Newcastle level on points with today's visitors.
Wigan had gone in front courtesy of Jimmy Bullard's superb fifth-minute free-kick, but they lost captain Arjan De Zeeuw, central defensive partner Matt Jackson and Lee McCulloch to injury before the break, and by that time they were already on the back foot.
Shearer's spot-kick had levelled the scores, and Titus Bramble headed the home side in front nine minutes before half-time as the Magpies inflicted a first away league defeat in seven on their opponents in front of a crowd of 52,302.
Michael Owen provided England boss Steve McClaren with the perfect tonic when he headed home a late winner to end Newcastle's Tyneside goal drought.