Season Preview: Mastering the Midfield

There is one player who the whole of our midfield could and should be built around going into the new season and that is Emyr Huws. The Welsh international definitely impressed when featuring last season and had it not been for ankle injuries who knows what could have happened. Injuries still plague the 21 year old with his pre-season having been restricted.

It has meant that other players have had to step up and Gary Caldwell has had to up the recruitment drive. The signings of David Perkins and long term target Max Power add nicely to the midfield ranks which already include Tim Chow, Don Cowie and Chris McCann.

McCann has been linked with many moves away over the past month or so and as of yet nothing has materialized. Much like James Perch I would be surprised to see him still here come September.

Gary though is still looking at targets and Everton youngster Francisco Junior has already joined the club on a month loan, with a view to a longer loan period. Francisco impressed in his first run out against Dundee. The player who was once though to have big things ahead of him last his way, now apparently focused and up for the challenge he could be very much the kind of player that the club are looking for in this period, a player with a point to prove.

Whilst we are still reportedly in the chase for John McGinn formerly of St Mirren, the player has been training over in America and recent reports suggest that Hibernian are currently also interested in the player. Another midfielder in the Wigan eye line is John Lundstram who is currently on trail with the club and a contract could be forthcoming if the player can show his worth.

What it currently means is, that we have a group of six central midfielders  all of varying experiences and ages. So far in pre-season the trio of Perkins, Chow and Power have impressed in the heart of the Wigan midfield and could be Gary's starting trio.

There is still a lot of work for Gary and the midfield, even so close to the start of the season, to do to get the cohesion right. That will be all important come the 8th August.

Midfielders to start the season: Tim Chow, David Perkins, Max Power