Wigan Athletic manager Gary Caldwell has backed new signing Scott Hogan to score goals for the club after the striker made his debut in the goalless draw at Sheffield Wednesday. The 34-year-old forward, who signed a short-term deal, came off the bench at Hillsborough and almost snatched a stoppage-time winner, only to see his effort saved.
Caldwell joked about the extended period Hogan spent with the squad before putting pen to paper. "I was joking with the players before he signed, this has been the longest trial period in football history," the manager said. Hogan had played a couple of in-house games for Latics as he built up his fitness.
His introduction from the bench on Saturday provided a late spark. The striker's sharp movement almost delivered a dramatic three points, a moment that underlined why Caldwell brought him in. Wigan's need for a cutting edge is clear, having scored just five goals in six League One games this season, leaving them 23rd in the table with only four points.
Young forward Adam Moseley, who joined non-league Southport on a 28-day loan, scored on his debut to help his temporary side win. Caldwell was pleased with the immediate impact. "Yeah brilliant, that's why we sent him there, to score goals and to win games," he said. Moseley did suffer a minor ankle issue during the loan spell but has since returned.
The departure of Ronan Darcy created space in the squad, with the wage savings already accounted for in the budget. This allowed the club to complete a deadline-day loan move for Aston Villa youngster Brad Burrowes, adding another option for Caldwell.
The team's recent form shows one win, one draw and three losses in their last five matches. Their next challenge is a home game against 19th-placed Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday, a key opportunity to climb the table. Fans can check the full schedule on the club's fixtures page. With Hogan now integrated, Caldwell will hope his new striker can start converting chances and help turn around a difficult start to the campaign that sees them nine points behind leaders Sheffield Wednesday.
