Wane ready to hand out another debut

Winger Liam Marshall is in the frame for his first-team debut in Friday’s derby against Leigh.

The 20-year-old is likely to come into the fold, with Joe Burgess switching to centre and Oliver Gildart having a week off to rest a minor injury.

And Wane believes Marshall has the potential to become a firm crowd-pleaser.

He said: “Liam’s a real tryscorer.

“There’ll be no pressure on him in his first game but he’s got a lot about him, he backs himself, he is confident without being cocky. I’m really looking forward to seeing him play.”

Marshall failed to earn a professional deal at the end of his three years with Wigan’s academy.

But the trainee accountant earned another crack with the Super League champions after impressing with Championship club Swinton Lions in 2016.

He scored 20 tries in 22 appearances and also crossed six times in seven matches for the Warriors reserves last year.

Wane said: “He’s really come on in the last 12 months or so.

“He’s knuckled down and done everything asked of him in pre-season.

“In that sense he reminds me a bit of when Dan Sarginson came here, and I couldn’t wait to give him a chance.”

Like Gildart – set to be fit to return the following week – Marshall is the son of an ex-Wigan player.

Dave Marshall was a winger who played alongside Wane in the late-80s, making 39 appearances between 1987 and 1990.

Liam Marshall is the first academy-product to be given a debut by Wane this year.

Last season, he gave eight homegrown players a chance – his hand forced, to some extent, by injuries.

The previous year, Gildart was the only academy-product to break through for a debut, during the Super-8s phase of the season.

Preparations for Friday’s home game against Leigh will be disrupted by an England training camp today, which will include Liam Farrell, George Williams, Joe Burgess, Sean O’Loughlin and John Bateman.

Sam Tomkins is also in the elite squad but is injured.

“We all want the England team to kick on and do well, so we support it,” said Wane.

Meanwhile, Wane was last night still waiting for scan results on Jake Shorrocks’ knee injury, but was hopeful it isn’t serious. He suffered the problem during Friday’s 28-26 win at Widnes.