The Honduras international has been an ever-present in the Premier League this season, a run Black hopes Figueroa can maintain for the final four games.

Considering it's just 12 months since he made his full debut on the final day of last season, Figueroa has made a big impact at the JJB Stadium this year.

And if his progress maintains at a similar pace, a big-money bid could soon be heading Latics' way, as happened with Wilson Palacios in January when Spurs splashed out £14m.

Assistant manager Black told the Evening Post: "I would imagine Maynor's value has gone up quite a bit from what we got him for.

"I have heard when I've been out and about that people are talking about him already.

"We hope we can hang on to him, and that Maynor can be our left-back for some years to come, but you never know.
"Players like him are getting harder and harder to find. We have picked up two or three but it's not easy.

"It's great to see them coming through, but Wilson Palacios has a story which might never be repeated, coming from where he did and ending up at Tottenham for the fee he did.
"That is a fantastic story, a great example to players in a similar
position who believe they have a chance of coming over here."

Figueroa is on target to complete all 38 league games, the only Latics player able to boast a complete attendance record.
And the fact he has only been substituted on four occasions shows how important the 26-year-old has become to the team.

Black said: "It's fantastic what Maynor has achieved here.

"He came here for five or six months without getting an opportunity to play in the team and that is not easy for a player when they are a few thousand miles away from home.

"But his mentality to do well is as good as I have seen.
"He trains exceptionally well every day, has adjusted to the culture and is doing very well learning the language.

"We are really pleased with him as you can imagine.
"Touch wood, his ever-present run continues.

"It would be a fine achievement if he carried it through until the end of the season.
"There won't be many players in the Premier League who can boast that."