'˜If the manager wants me to play, perfect' - Wigan Athletic new-boy

Lee Evans is hoping to be given the green light for a spot of overtime tonight as Wigan Athletic travel to Rotherham in the first round of the Carabao Cup.
Lee EvansLee Evans
Lee Evans

Latics boss Paul Cook has promised to ring the changes for the trip to South Yorkshire, making no attempt to disguise how far down his list of priorities the game falls.

However, after only rejoining Latics last Friday, and coming off the bench for his second ‘debut’ at Aston Villa 24 hours later, Evans would like to get the chance to play his way back into the starting XI.

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“I want to play every game, that’s my mindset,” he told the Wigan Post.

“Obviously some games are more important than others, and there’ll be more emphasis on Saturday against Nottingham Forest than this one.

“But if the manager wants me to play against Rotherham then perfect.

“Any chance to get out there on the field is an opportunity to show what you can do.

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“If not, then all the focus will be on Saturday, and a massive challenge against a team that will be up there at the end of the season.”

It’s been a whirlwind week for the Wales international, who spent the first half of last term on loan at Wigan before being recalled by parent club Wolves in January, and sold on to Sheffield United.

Despite being a regular for the Blades, he leapt at the chance to re-sign for Latics when the opportunity arose.

“At Sheffield United I played every game, including the first two games of this season,” he said.

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“Wigan put in a bid, and Sheffield United told me it was up to me.

“For me, I was always going to come back here, it was an easy decision.

“It didn’t need any selling to me at all.

“I know the way the manager wants to play, and the way he plans on using me.

“I already know everyone at the club, from the training ground all the way up.

“As soon as the opportunity came up, I was itching to get in the car and down the motorway.”