Missing Wigan Athletic stars poised to return

Leon Balogun could be back on the field today against Fleetwood

Paul Cook will be hoping to see his Wigan Athletic squad bolstered further for the run-in by today’s behind-closed-doors friendly against Joey Barton’s Fleetwood.

Latics have arranged a practice clash against their north west neighbours, who are involved in League One play-off action at the end of next week.

Despite Latics hitting the ground running on Saturday with an impressive 2-0 victory at Huddersfield, Cook was without the services of six first-teamers – Leon Balogun, Chey Dunkley, Alex Dobre, Gavin Massey, Dujon Sterling and Gary Roberts.

And the Latics boss is hopeful at least three of them will be back on the grass this afternoon, to give him a nudge ahead of Saturday’s Championship visit of Blackburn.

“We’ve got a game lined up on Tuesday behind closed doors against Fleetwood,” revealed the Latics boss.

“And ideally and hopefully...maybe Leon Balogun, maybe Gavin Massey, maybe Gary Roberts...could be involved.

“We’ll just have to wait and see on that.”

Cook revealed Latics have already played two ‘friendlies’ since returning from lockdown last month – a 2-1 defeat against Burnley and a 2-2 draw against Preston.

But the games have been little more than opposed training sessions, with the emphasis being on fitness, patterns and formations rather than the result.