Christian Saydee is ready to make up for lost time and help Wigan Athletic climb out of the League One relegation zone. The striker has returned from a serious calf injury and scored twice in his last four substitute appearances, offering a rare bright spot for a team that sits 24th with only seven points from 12 games, having recorded just two wins and a draw all season.
Saydee suffered the injury in early July, forcing him to miss the opening months of the season. He has worked diligently on his fitness in the gym and on the wattbike, and his efforts are now paying off on the pitch. He came off the bench to score in the 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield Town on 24 October and had also netted in the previous 2-1 loss to Oxford United on 20 October. The team's recent form of one win and four losses from their last five matches includes three consecutive defeats, the most recent being a 3-0 loss at Leicester on 27 October.
Fan Support and Ambition
The 24-year-old London-born forward has been greeted by chants of his name from the Latics faithful during each of his recent cameos. He expressed his appreciation for that support after the Huddersfield game and is now focused on repaying it with goals. "The injury was difficult because I had worked really hard in the off-season to come back and kind of show people what I could do," Saydee said. He added that the setback has left him feeling leaner, fitter, and stronger. "It made me a lot hungrier," he stated.
His hunger is exactly what Wigan need. The team's form leaves them 18 points adrift of the leaders and deep in a survival battle. They have scored just eight league goals all season while conceding 20, giving them a goal difference of minus twelve. Manager Gary Caldwell remains cautious about rushing the player back to a full 90 minutes, but the upcoming home fixture against Bromley this Saturday 31 October is viewed as a potential opportunity for a first start.
Saydee believes the team's style of play is evident but that key parts have been missing. His return provides one of those missing pieces. With the next match a key six-pointer against 22nd-placed Bromley, all eyes will be on whether Saydee can translate his impact off the bench into a match-winning performance from the start.
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