Why Wigan Athletic Academy graduate fully deserved personal honour - 'brilliant...fantastic'

Sporting director Gregor Rioch credited Weir's 2020 summer sale to Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion as a crucial factor in the Latics surviving after previous owners IEC placed them into administration.

Shaun Maloney brought the former Scotland and England junior international back to Wigan two years ago, since when he has nailed down a regular spot in the engine room.

And he was rewarded by Caldwell for his consistency with the skipper's armband with club captain Jason Kerr missing the trip to Vale Park through injury.

"Jensen's a brilliant player, and he's been fantastic since I returned to the club," said the head coach, who recently revealed he had twice tried to sign the player while manager of Exeter City.

"That goes for a few of them players, any of whom would probably have deserved to be captain.

"But I decided to give him the armband and I thought it was another fine display from him."

Caldwell also revealed the thought process being Kerr being a noticeable absentee from the team sheet.

"Jason's injured, and he'll hopefully be back at some point next week," he said. "It's not a serious one, but it's something that caused him to miss the game."

Latics are also keeping collective fingers crossed regarding on-loan Brentford midfielder Ryan Trevitt, who only returned from a seven-month lay-off last week, but who limped off at Vale Park shortly after coming on as a second-half substitute.

"I don't know what it is, but obviously we had used all of our substitution windows and he had to come off," added Caldwell.

"It's incredibly frustrating for him, because he's worked so hard to get back to the level he's at.

"We've had to integrate him back into the fold, and it looks like he's picked up another injury, which fingers crossed is not serious."

Latics were forced to finish the game with 10 men as – although they had only made four changes – they had used up all of their substitution windows.