GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - APRIL 16: Shaun Maloney, Manager of Hibernian FC reacts prior to the Scottish Cup Semi Final match between Heart Of Midlothian FC and Hibernian FC at Hampden Park on April 16, 2022 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
DONE DEAL: Wigan Athletic Boss Confirms New Signing Will Be Dropped For Wrexham Clash.
Wigan Athletic head coach Shaun Maloney has revealed that summer signing Sean Clare will not be starting in tonight’s EFL Cup clash with Wrexham.
Despite suffering heavy blows in the last two weeks, losing key players such as Jack Whatmough, Jamie McGrath and James McClean, the Latics travelled to Pride Park on Saturday and picked up all three points.
It was a hard-fought victory as Derby County bombarded the box with crosses from the flanks and had over 20 shots but Wigan were patient, picking the right moments to attack and taking their chances when they arose.
However, football in the EFL is a cold and unforgiving machine and Maloney’s men will need to be switched on to put League Two’s Wrexham to the sword tonight.
The boss confirmed in his pre-match press conference that there will be tweaks to the starting eleven, but not too many [quotes via Wigan Today]:
“We’ll probably make some changes.
“I don’t want to make too many changes, because it is a big game for us, and we want to go there to compete.”
One change that Maloney did confirm was that new signing Sean Clare will not be involved in the lineup that will take to the field at the Racecourse Ground:
“Sean Clare only did three or four days of training, after no real pre-season, before playing at Derby.
“I think it would be a big ask for him to go again, so we’re probably going to have to change the shape of the team.
Writer’s View
Wigan Athletic face newly-promoted Northampton Town in League One on Saturday and so it’s no surprise that Maloney will be making changes to the team that snatched a win against Derby County.
The Latics are currently in a five-point deficit and so the gaffer will want to keep his squad fresh in order to earn those points back as quickly as possible, prioritising the league over the League Cup.
