Powell and Wildschut '˜too good for Championship'

Nick Powell (left) celebrates his goal on Saturday

Powell marked his second ‘debut’ for Latics with a brilliant free-kick to put Latics two up just after the half-hour mark, while Wildschut was a constant thorn in Rovers’ side down the flanks with his pace and power.

“Yanic will be a threat in any league because he’s got pace,” gushed Caldwell.

“Defenders hate that, and they were terrified after five minutes.

“We’re trying to play him in an area of the pitch where he can really cause teams problems, and he can pop up wherever he wants to do damage.

“Again his final pass, his final shot, is something that he’s working hard on and getting better at.

“Once he gets that he’ll score lots of goals because he’s a dangerous player.”

On Powell, the Latics boss was even more effusive in his praise.

“Nick was fantastic - and he’s probably only 60 per cent fit,” revealed Caldwell.

“But that’s the quality he has, and he should be playing at an even higher level than this.

“He’s been working extremely hard in training to get his fitness levels up to be able to play like that.

“But I love watching him when he’s like that, and I’m sure the fans love watching him.

“He has great awareness, a great range of passing, he’s so free in his movements during a game, and there’s a lot more to come from him.

“Nick can be whatever he wants to be - and I said that to him in the summer, after I chased him so hard to get him.

“He has such balance, such grace, such awareness, such ability.

“As soon as he placed the free-kick I knew he was shooting and I knew he could put it in.

“It was a fantastic goal and a fantastic performance.”

It was the perfect way to welcome new signing Shaun MacDonald, who was in the crowd after joining from Bournemouth on a two-year deal.

“Shaun’s come from a great club with a great style of play, and I think he’ll fit in here very quickly, he won’t need a lot of work,” Caldwell said.

“He’s also a fantastic character who knows the league, who’s been on a fantastic journey with Bournemouth, and hopefully he can bring that experience here.

“We’re delighted to have him, and add competition to an already strong midfield.”