Camara gave Latics a 32nd minute with his first Wigan goal since netting at Middlesbrough in December 2006.

Antonio Valencia's pass picked him out just inside the box, Camara turning sharply and firing a low shot past Magpies keeper Russell Hoult.

It was a deserved half-time lead, Latics enjoying the lions' share of possession in the first half, although County did have their moments – notably a volley from Richard Butcher which just cleared Carlo Nash's bar.

Steve Bruce's men stepped up the pressure after the interval, the introduction of Amr Zaki for Emile Heskey giving them fresh energy up front.

Zaki netted Latics' second goal on the hour, the Egyptian starting the move by lying the ball out to Kevin Kilbane on the left-wing.

Kilbane powered down the wing and his low cross into the six-yard box was met by Zaki with a simple finish into the roof of the net.

He turned provider less than two minutes later for the third, his cross from the right finding Camara who sent a diving header past Hoult from close range.

It must have been encouarging for Steve Bruce to see Camara looking so sharp, the striker having spent much of last season on loan at West Ham.

The Senegal international is the quickest of Latics' front men, something Bruce could use to good effect this term.

Young substitute Tomasz Kupisz made it 4-0 in stoppage time, lifting a shot over the keeper from the edge of the box.

The margin of victory could have been even greater for the hosts who played the final 15 minutes with 10 men after Lewis Montrose was forced off with a head injury after Bruce had already used his three substitutes.

Kupisz saw his right-foot shot from just inside the box pushed behind for a corner by Hoult.

Titus Bramble wasn't also far away with a low shot in the 76th minute which flashed inches wide of the target.

In the first half, early pressure saw the lively Daniel de Ridder trick his way into the box only for his low shot to be comfortably saved byRussell Hoult.

Camara then pulled an effort wide of the far post after a Kevin Kilbane pass had picked him out on the left side of the box.

Camara, looking sharp up front, almost broke the deadlock in the 28th minute, jinking his way into the box and forcing a diving save from Hoult.

He got to the rebound first but saw his follow-up shot hit a defender and go behind for a corner.

Bruce had made six changes to the side beaten by Chelsea on Sunday, resting key players for Saturday's visit to Hull City.

Goalscorer Camara was one of the players to benefit from Bruce's decision to give some of his squad members a run-out.

Nash was given his first start in more than a year at the club, with second year pro Montrose named at right-back.

There was a start for summer signing de Ridder after substitute appearances against West Ham and Chelsea, while Michael Brown and Kilbane came into the midfield.

Heskey was among the survivors from Sunday, Titus Bramble, Emmerson Boyce, Maynor Figueroa and Antonio Valencia the others.

Young Poles Kupisz and Tomasz Cwyka were named among the substitutes, as was Dutch winger Rachid Bouaouzan, his first time in the squad since joining Latics in a £400,000 move from Sparta Rotterdam 12 months ago.

Latics: Nash, Montrose, Bramble, Boyce, Figueroa, De Ridder, Valencia, Brown, Kilbane, Heskey, Camara. Subs: Pollitt, Palacios, Cattermole, Cywka, Kupisz, Bouaouzan, Zaki.

Notts County: Hoult, Beardsley, Edwards, Tann, Mayo, Fairclough, MacKenzie, Butcher, Smith, Weir-Daley, Facey. Subs: Pilkington, Johnson, Hamshaw, Weston, Canham, Forrester.

Referee: Colin Webster (Tyne and Wear)

For a full match report, reaction and pictures, pick up a copy of the Wigan Evening Post on Wednesday