'I love Wigan Athletic', admits Plymouth boss

Lowe, the much-travelled former Bury and Shrewbury frontman, has been a revelation since moving into the technical area.

Having led Bury to promotion from League Two in 2018/19, he repeated the trick with Plymouth last term.

The Pilgrims arrive in Wigan nicely placed in ninth spot, two points off the play-offs - five points clear of their troubled opponents.

But Lowe will be giving every respect to a club he has all the time in the world for.

"We are not taking Wigan lightly, not at all," he said. "They have been through a tough time of late, and I love Wigan football club for what it is.

"There have been so many good people there who are friends of mine, and even people there now.

“There are some young lads who play there who we know. It’s tough times for them but we can’t take them lightly.

“I wished them all the best at the start of the season, but when we play them we don’t.

“We will wish them all the best after the game, hoping they can find a buyer and start spending a bit of money, and getting themselves back up where they certainly deserve to be.

“They were in the Championship last season and did ever so well.

"And they have had the kick in the teeth of being relegated because of circumstances with the owner, which is tough.

“It’s up to me as the manager and my coaches to put something together to hopefully take the points.”

Lowe also showered praise on opposite number John Sheridan, who enjoyed a successful spell as boss of Plymouth earlier in his career.

“I have got a lot of time for John, for what he has done," Lowe told the Plymouth Herald. “He was a manager over in Ireland and probably could have stayed there for two or three years.

“But he hasn’t, he has chosen to come back and take this massive challenge on at Wigan Athletic, so fair play to him.

“I respect him for that and I respect him for what he has done.

“As I have said, he’s a winner so he’s going to want to turn us over, and we have got to make sure we are right and ready so that can’t happen.”