If you have been watching the first game of the Latics at the Ricoh Arena against Coventry City, you must have surely noticed that the first team sheet of the season had a club record of 10 debuts out of the eleven players on the pitch, with Chris McCann being the only player in the starting line-up who played last season.
This is indicative of the changes brought by former Wigan captain and current Coach Gary Caldwell at the club over the summer. The new starting eleven team now consists of Richard O’Donnell, Reece James, David Perkins, Donervon Daniels, Max Power, Chris McCann, Will Grigg, Michael Jacobs, Craig Morgan, Francisco Junior, and Jonjoe Kenny.
The goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell began his career in the youth club at Sheffield Wednesday, and he made his first football league debut at Oldham Athletics during his fourth loan spell. He then went on to play with not less than 5 teams before finally landing at Wigan.
Defender Reece James began his career with Rossendale United and moved to Manchester United for his final year as an Under 18. He made his professional debut in League One while on loan at Carlisle United from Old Trafford.
The 31 year old midfielder David Perkins started his career with local club Morecambe in 2000. He then went on to play for Rochdale, Colchester United, and in 2011 he had his first taste of Championship football with Barnsley, and finally be played for Blackpool in 2014.
Defender Donervon Daniels developed through the Academy at West Bromwich Albion and had his first taste of professional football with Tranmere Rovers while on loan. He has had brief spells at Gillingham, Blackpool, and Aberdeen.
Power, the 22 year old midfielder started progression at his local side Tranmere Rovers where he earned his first professional start in 2011 against Huddersfield Town, and he ended as Tranmere’s top scorer in all competitions for season 2014/2015 with 13 goals.
The Dublin-Born midfielder McCann needs no introduction, as he has been an outstanding performer since he joined the club in summer 2013 and is currently the last man standing from last season.
24 year old Will Grigg broke into professional football while playing for Walsall. Then they went on to play for Brentford and lastly helping his side MK Dons getting promoted to the Sky Bet Championship last season. He is the one who scored a brace against Manchester United in MK Dons 4-0 famous victory for the Capital One Cup clash.
Michael Jacobs, the midfielder spent his youth career with local club Northampton Town and made it into the first team in 2009. He then signed for Derby County, before joining Wolves which he helped to promotion as League One Champions, and also made a brief move to Blackpool.
30 year old captain and defender Craig Morgan started his career with Wrexham, and he has helped both Peterborough and Rotherham United win back to back promotions all the way to the Championship.
Portuguese midfielder Francisco Junior has joined on loan from Everton a few weeks ago to find himself straight into the starting XI. He is a product of Benfica academy and signed for Everton in 2012. He has since spent time on loan with Vitesse Arnhem in Holland, Stromsgodset in Norway and finally Port Vale.
And finally 18 year old Jonjoe Kenny also joined Latics on Loan from Everton and he appears on the substitutes’ bench of this team for last season’s Europa League.
With a record 10 fresh players in the starting eleven line up, Wigan still has hope of bouncing back after its relegation from the Championship last season. Fan of the Latics are very much confident about leading in this new season, and they are ready to gamble in favour of Wigan winning the league with new players.
For the moment fans of Latics may get their inspiration to support this new team line up by playing sports themed slots at the popular online casino Magical Vegas, where they can indulge in slots such as Football Star and Golden Goal. These brilliant football themed games may bring great inspiration to the fans throughout the season.
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