'˜I expected Wigan Athletic to be fighting at the top,' says Josh Windass

Josh Windass has made a big impact already

Latics currently stand in fifth spot in the Championship table after nine matches, just two points behind joint-leaders Leeds United and Middlesbrough.

Most onlookers – certainly outside the town – will probably have been surprised at how well Paul Cook’s men have adapted to the second tier following last season’s League One title triumph.

However, Windass – a summer capture from Glasgow Rangers – says he knew exactly what we was signing up for when returning south of the border.

“I didn’t come here with any other expectation other than to be fighting at the top of the league to be honest,” he told the Wigan Post.

“If I was going to come into this league, it wasn’t going to be a club that was only looking to make up the numbers.

“The manager and his staff made it very clear from the start what the ambitions were at this club, and we’re managing to surprise a lot of people.

“If we can keep flying under the radar, with hardly anyone speaking about us, that’s fine by us.

“As long as we’re continuing to go about our business properly, working hard on the training ground and then in matches, that’s all that matters.”

Windass scored his first goal for Latics last Tuesday in the 2-1 victory over Hull City, the club where his dad, Dean, is still afforded legend status.

And the 24-year-old followed that up with a crucial assist for star man Nick Powell in last Friday’s 1-0 win over Bristol City, a result which temporarily lifted Latics up into third spot ahead of the weekend action.

The back-to-back home wins were the perfect way to bounce back from the 2-0 defeat at Brentford the previous weekend, when the visitors were comprehansively outplayed by the best side they’ve faced so far.

“The lads were a bit down after the Brentford result,” Windass acknowledged.

“I think we all knew we’d been beaten by a better team on the day.

“But the way we’ve responded has shown how much character there is in the camp.

“We probably didn’t play to our best in either of the games we won, but spirit can get you over the line and it’s nice to have that in the camp.”

Windass is hoping to transfer his goalscoring record from Scotland to England, having bagged 19 in his two seasons with the Gers.

“I have set myself a target... but I’ll be keeping it to myself until I get there,” he added.