My old Wigan Athletic team-mate is on his way to the top - Nige

Latics bounced back to winning ways with a deserved 2-1 victory over the Tigers to move up to seventh place in the Championship table ahead of Wednesday night’s action.

And Adkins – a former team-mate of Cook during the Springfield Park years – is full of admiration for the work being done at the DW.

“Cookie’s done a great job here, and they showed what a good side they are,” Adkins told the Wigan Post.

“We thought we could get at them a little bit, but they play that box in midfield, that rotation, the wide players come in off the line.

“Nick Powell’s obviously a big threat, they get bodies in and around him for knockdowns, and the pass the ball about very well.

“The full-backs get forward well and get the ball in the box, and they caused us a lot of problems.”

Softly-spoken Adkins admits the experience of sharing a technical area with Cook – who has been known for wearing his heart on his sleeve – was an interesting one.

“Cookie’s brilliant – except he never shuts up!” Adkins laughed.

“I like to think I’m passionate about what I do, and I am, but he is so passionate.

“He’s also a good guy, who’s done a great job everywhere he’s been, and he wants to win.

“I really wish him well, because he’s going to have a good career in management.

“It doesn’t seem 30 years since we were kids coming through the ranks together here...that’s a long time ago!

“You’d never have said back then we’d both have been managers here but that’s football.”