Wigan Athletic provides Joe Taylor and Joseph Hungbo injury updates, and previews reunion with Exeter City

The in-form striker - who has eight goals in his last 11 league games, was substituted with 13 minutes to go at Barnsley in midweek.

Taylor's latest goal looked set to secure another priceless three points, only for the hosts to level in the sixth of nine added minutes.

But the main worry was that - having also taken a knock in the first half - his fitness may be in doubt.

"I think Joe's okay," reported Caldwell. "We knew it was going to be a very energetic game, and he put in a lot of running during that first half.

"Dara (Costelloe) was there ready to come on...Joe'll be fine for Saturday."

Caldwell was left to reflect on another huge performance from the on-loan Huddersfield Town man.

But would he have been able to handle him as a player?

"I'd have had him in my pocket...tucked away in that back pocket!" laughed the former Latics, Celtic and Scotland centre-back.

"No, he must be a nightmare to play against, because he's strong, he's quick, and out of possession he did another great job for the team."

On Taylor's goal - created by a lightnight fast long ball from goalkeeper Sam Tickle - Caldwell added: "I'd love to take credit for that, but it's just good players making good decisions with good execution.

"Joe is always a threat on the counter attack, he is deceptively quick...I think defenders think they can get there, and he just has an change of gear that means he gets in front of people.

"It's a brilliant ball from Sam, and we had other moments in that first half where we possibly could have been more clinical."

Caldwell also revealed why Joseph Hungbo was replaced by Harrison Bettoni in the 18 at Barnsley, having been initially named on the bench.

"He was carrying a little knock that didn't feel quite right in the warm-up," added Caldwell. "We kind of got him off straight away, and we'll see how he is."

Next up for Latics is the small matter of Saturday's visit of Exeter, the side Caldwell left to rejoin Latics last month.

"It will be strange, but you have to be professional about it," he said. "I'm Wigan manager now, and I have to do my utmost to win a football match for Wigan on Saturday.

"There'll be a lot of people coming up that I know very well, a lot of very familiar faces. But we have a job to do, and we have to be ready for another tough game, because every single game at this level is the same.

"At home we have been very good since I came in, and we'll be aiming to keep that going this weekend.

"We're very clear on what we need to do, we're in the second of three blocks of games, and there is a minimum number of points we know we need to pick up.

"That's another point on the way to that target in this block, and now we need to focus on Saturday and try to get a good win on Saturday."