Wigan Athletic chief happy to harness Chelsea and Manchester City starlets - '...difficult to do that...'

The Latics boss had a clear profile of player in mind when conducting the majority of his summer recruitment.

After making 33-year-old Max Power his first signing, Caldwell then focused on younger talent, with Joe Walsh, Connor Barrett (both 24), Finley Burns, Ryan Trevitt (both 23), Joe Whitworth, Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen (both 22), Archie Harris, Luke Harris, Akeel Higgins (all 21), Charlie Gray (20), Brad Burrowes (18) and Reggie Walsh (17) also arriving before the transfer deadline.

Midfielders Gray and Walsh - on season-long loans from Manchester City and Chelsea respectively - were both excellent in the 0-0 draw at Sheffield Wednesday last weekend.

And Caldwell is delighted to see his new-look team getting to grips with the challenge ahead.

"You look through our team...that was Charlie's third start in the EFL, probably Reggie's fifth or sixth...he's only 17," said the Latics boss.

"We've players still getting to know each other, players still trying to find the right formula and partnerships within the team.

"I hope that performance will give us more belief and more confidence in what we're doing.

"When you work on things but don't get the result, it can sometimes have a negative effect on you. But hopefully that performance and result will give us something to build on."

Gray and Walsh have both been earmarked for careers in the Premier League, and Caldwell says experiences like last weekend will only stand them in good stead.

"They're quality footballers, and what they need is time and support, and experiences of playing in stadiums like Hillsborough," added Caldwell.

"They came off the field thinking 'Yeah, I can do this, I can really affect games at this level'.

"I thought Reggie was fantastic in moments, and he'll learn from other moments.

"I sometimes think about bringing him off because he looks tired, but then he produces a moment of magic that makes it difficult to do that.

"We're very grateful to Chelsea for allowing him to come to us, and we are with Manchester City for Charlie and Aston Villa for Brad Burrowes.

"The players who've come in, we really want to look after them and help them develop. But we need them to give us something back as well, and we've seen that quality already.

"It's early days in all of their careers, but the more games they can, the more they will develop, and the more games they will be able to affect."

Latics moved off the bottom of the League One table thanks to their point at Sheffield Wednesday.

They’ll be looking to move out of the relegation zone this weekend when fellow strugglers Wycombe Wanderers visit the Brick Community Stadium.

The Chairboys are currently managerless after parting company with Michael Duff last week.

Wycombe’s dangerman will be striker Jayden Wareham, who has scored in each of his last two matches following his summer signing from Exeter City.

Wareham scored 22 goals for Exeter last season, having been signed by Gary Caldwell in the summer of 2025.