Ryan Lowe on unearthing Wigan Athletic's latest 'gem' - 'That's what I love to see'

That's the verdict of head coach Ryan Lowe, who sent Bettoni on with 13 minutes to go at Wimbledon on Saturday, and Latics losing 1-0.

Fast forward a quarter of an hour, and Bettoni had scored his first two goals in senior football - including a deadly free-kick with his first touch - which handed Latics their first away win since Easter.

After an encouraging cameo in the rain at Stockport in the Vertu Trophy - when Bettoni was only denied another winning goal due to an erroneous offside flag - there's no doubt who the man of the moment is at Wigan!

"I told the group last week after the Stockport game I think we've got another gem on our hands, and I won't be afraid to pick him," enthused Lowe.

"I thought Dara (Costelloe) and Christian (Saydee) were excellent at Wimbledon, but I felt the time was right to bring Harrison on, alongside Mulls (Paul Mullin).

"We were getting him on anyway, but I saw we had a free-kick on the far side, and I know the quality he has.

"I said to him 'right, go and take it', and the lad's looking at me, going 'really?' (Morgan) Foxy really wanted it, but I told him to get on, pick his spot, and that's exactly what he did."

And when Mullin sent a perfectly-timed flick into Bettoni's path with three minutes to go, there was a sense of inevitability about what would happen next.

"It's an unbelievable finish, a striker's finish, but it's the timing of the run as well," explained Lowe. "He just arcs it, and bends it, and that's what I love to see strikers do.

"All he needed was a chance...I've liked him since I came through the door, and long may it continue.

"There's plenty of lads coming through, the Under-18s won again on Friday, I love that group, they're fantastic.

"You obviously can't play them all at once, but the ones we've brought through this season have shown what they can do.

"I said to the lads, I don't care how old any of them are. If they can perform to the level we think they can, they will get an opportunity here.

"With Maleace (Asamoah Jnr) struggling with his back injury, Harrison got a chance at Stockport, when he had a winning goal disallowed which should have stood.

"He came on, got hold of the ball, made some good runs, and we made the decision to bring him to Wimbledon with us.

"Harrison's got such a good attitude, he's been a real stand-out in the Academy, hence why he's with us.

"I've said this to all the young lads, they can look at my record, I'm happy to give young lads the opportunity to show me what they can do.

"That's what this football club is all about...as well as climbing up the leagues, we give young lads their chance in the first team.

"The thing with Harrison is he's a goalscorer, he's a midfielder, he's a striker, he's a '10, he can play numerous positions.

"If he can continue to do what he has been doing, we'll keep him grounded, and keep him on the right path."