Form
Wigan Athletic finished 16th in League One last season, four places and seven points behind Reading. This season marks their fourth straight year in the third tier, following their relegation from the Championship alongside Reading in 2023.
They have had a poor start to this season, currently sitting bottom of the league after picking up four points from a possible 24. Their one win so far this season came in a home game against MK Dons at the start of September.
The Latics have seen three losses,
one draw and one win in their last five games and come into this weekend off the back of a 1-0 away loss to Stevenage.
Reading claimed the double over Wigan last season, winning 1-2 at the Brick Community Stadium back in February before following up with a 3-0 home win in March.
The boss
Gary Caldwell: Caldwell was appointed Wigan manager back in February this year, replacing Ryan Lowe and starting his second stint in charge of the Latics.
He had a 14-year professional career as a defender, starting off at Newcastle United, before representing the likes of Hibernian, Celtic and Wigan, where he became captain. Caldwell ended his playing career at Wigan, before taking up a coaching role with the club.
It wasn’t long until he was made manager, taking over from Malkay Mackay in 2015. He won promotion in his first full season, winning the League One title in 2016. Caldwell was sacked by Wigan partway through the 2016/17 season and went on to manage both Chesterfield and Partick Thistle.
He then had minor roles at Newcastle, Manchester City and Hibernian before his move back into first-team management with Exeter City.
Caldwell spent close to three and a half years in charge of the Grecians, leading them to 14th-, 13th- and 16th-placed finishes in League One. He guided Wigan to a 16th-place finish last season and has a 37% win percentage since his return.
The Scotsman likes his teams to play aggressive, front-footed football, while also looking to hand opportunities to younger players.
Squad
It was a busy summer at Wigan, when the Latics signed 16 players, with 10 coming in permanently and six joining on loan.
Defensive reinforcements arrived in the shape of defenders Archie Harris (Bournemouth), Connor Barrett (Walsall), Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen (Dunfermline) and former Reading loanee Finley Burns (Man City), while they also completed the signing of goalkeeper Joe Whitworth from Crystal Palace.
Midfielders Max Power (Bradford City) and Ryan Trevitt (Brentford) were also brought in permanently, alongside forwards Sonny Perkins (Leyton Orient), Akeel Higgins (West Bromwich Albion) and Scott Hogan, who signed on a free transfer.
Their six loans were goalkeeper Joe Walsh (Queens Park Rangers), midfielders Reggie Walsh (Chelsea), Charlie Gray (Man City), Brad Burrowes (Aston Villa) and Luke Harris (Fulham), as well as forward Hindolo Mustapha (Crystal Palace).
Expected setup
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Style: Direct, defensive football
Lineup: Whitworth, Power, Carragher, Burns, Chilokoa-Mullen, Gray, Weir, Barrett, Walsh, Mellish, Hogan
Key player
6. Jensen Weir: Midfielder Weir signed for Wigan in August 2024, returning to the club where he started his career.
He is a product of the Wigan youth system and made his professional debut in 2017, becoming the Latics’ youngest-ever player. Weir moved to Brighton in 2020 but only made one first-team appearance for the Seagulls.
Weir had a number of loan spells to gain first-team experience, spending time at the likes of Cambridge United, Morecambe, Blackpool and Port Vale.
He has made close to a century of appearances for Wigan and has four goals to his name.
The 24-year-old is the son of former Scotland defender David Weir and has represented both Scotland and England at youth level. Weir is an energetic attacking midfielder with good pace and creativity.
One to watch
10. Reggie Walsh: Midfielder Walsh joined Wigan on loan from Premier League Chelsea this summer.
He is a product of the Chelsea academy, joining the club at the age of seven, and made his debut for the Blues in a European Conference League game against Djurgarden last year. Walsh has made a further three appearances for Chelsea and became their youngest-ever Champions League player last season when he came off the bench against Ajax.
The 17-year-old has represented England at every level from under-15 to under-19 and has 32 Young Lions caps to his name.
Since joining Wigan, Walsh has made seven appearances. The attacking midfielder typically plays in the number 10 role, but can also play out wide, exhibiting strong movement and creativity.
