Nick Powell on returning to Wigan Athletic - and how close he came to being back full-time

The 29-year-old joined Stockport County as a free agent after his contract with Championship outfit Stoke City expired, and played in his side’s 2-0 defeat at the DW in the EFL Trophy in midweek.

He surprised many by opting to drop down two divisions while still in his peak years, and he has revealed a third spell with Latics was also on the table.

Powell - who was a former team-mate of Latics boss Shaun Maloney during the 2013-14 campaign, before returning under Gary Caldwell in 2016 - said: "I did have conversations with Shaun about possibly coming back again.

"The thing was, I'd already met with Stockport, and gave them my word that I would go there, which I didn't want to go back on. But hearing Shaun wanted me back, and believed I could do a job, was nice, and I did have a think before making my decision.

"And I'm really happy with the way things are going at Stockport, it couldn't really have turned out any better."

Not that Powell has lost any of his affinity for Latics.

"I always keep an eye out for the Wigan scores, and it's great to see them back on the up," he said. "It's been a difficult few years, but it remains a great club with so many happy memories for me.

"I went back for the Joseph's Goal charity game in the summer, and it was nice to see so many familiar faces. It's a special club, and one I'm always happy to go back to."

He's also enjoying seeing old pal Maloney doing so well in steering the ship from the choppy waters of earlier in the year.

"As a player, Shaun was always so switched on, so astute, in terms of the tactical side of the game," said Powell.

"He wasn't someone I necessarily would have picked to go into management, I have to say. But he's done great during his short time at Wigan, and has the club heading in the right direction again.

"The club also seems to be in safe hands off the pitch, which is the most important thing after the last few years."