Wigan Athletic manager Gary Caldwell has made a candid admission about facing former loan star Joe Taylor, describing the striker's continued success for Huddersfield Town as 'frustrating'. The Latics host Huddersfield this weekend in a critical League One fixture, with Caldwell's side rooted to the bottom of the table with just seven points from ten games. Their league standing is 24th in League One, having recorded two wins and a draw from their ten matches, with a recent form of one win and four losses.
Caldwell confirmed a permanent move for the 23-year-old Welsh international was never on the cards, despite Taylor scoring 11 goals in 22 appearances during his loan spell at the DW Stadium last season. "Joe's a striker we know very well, he's one of the best in the league, we saw that for ourselves here last season," Caldwell said. He acknowledged the player's tactical value, recalling a specific game where Taylor man-marked Max Power and still managed to score a vital goal.
The manager revealed the club never entered discussions to sign Taylor permanently from Huddersfield. Caldwell described the forward's time at Wigan as difficult on a personal level, stating he was 'miserable most of the time', but insisted the pair had a good relationship. Taylor has since flourished back at his parent club, netting eight goals and providing two assists in ten matches this term, helping Huddersfield to second place in the league.
This reunion comes with immense pressure for Wigan, who are 15 points adrift of leaders Stockport County and fighting for survival. Their last outing was a 2-1 defeat to this same Huddersfield side just days ago, with Christian Saydee scoring a late consolation. Their recent results include a 2-1 loss to Oxford United on Tuesday 20 October, a 1-0 win over Reading on Saturday 17 October, and a 1-0 defeat at Stevenage on Saturday 10 October.
Caldwell plans to use his inside knowledge to try and gain an edge, joking he would try to 'wind him up' during the game. The manager also noted that while Taylor is a top talent, he has weaknesses that Wigan must exploit. The fixture is a key one in the relegation battle, with Wigan's next assignment a tough trip to face 10th-placed Leicester on Tuesday 27 October. Caldwell's final preparation will focus on nullifying one of the league's most in-form players in a match his team desperately needs to turn their season around.
Read the full report at Yorkshire Post
