Wigan Athletic star can't wait to 'take bits from' new gaffer

The Latics squad met their new manager for the first time during their warm-weather training camp in Turkey last week.

They all returned to the UK at the weekend and are now at Christopher Park preparing for their return to action at Millwall on December 10.

And Lang says the arrival of the Ivory Coast legend - and Arsenal 'Invincible' from 2003/04 - has given all the players a renewed spring in their step during the World Cup break.

“We are all excited to work with him," said Lang. "He has obviously had a great career, and hopefully as a squad, we can take bits from him and really push forward in this league.

“He’s getting a squad that will work hard, and a really good group.”

The Latics squad spent the first half of the camp under the watchful eye of Rob Kelly, who will stay on as assistant to Toure.

“It’s been great, the lads have been enjoying their training," acknowledged Lang.

“It’s been nice to get a bit of sun when we’ve had it, and the lads have been working hard.

“You’re spending time with the lads 24/7 - sharing the rooms and eating food together.

"Some lads are getting on each other’s nerves - some are getting well - but we’re mostly getting on well.

“But we’re dying to get back to playing at the minute.

"We’re enjoying watching the World Cup in the hotel, but we’re looking forward to getting back to it and starting to get some positive results."

Toure will also be joined on his backroom staff at Wigan by Kevin Betsy and Ashvir Johal.

Betsy enjoyed a long and distinguished playing career with Woking, Fulham, Bournemouth, Hull, Barnsley, Hartlepool, Oldham, Wycombe, Bristol City, Yeovil, Walsall and Southend.

He coached the England sides at U15, U16, U17 and U18 level, before he was appointed manager of Arsenal U23s in the summer of 2021.

That led to him being given the manager's job at Crawley over the summer, but he was sacked only two months into the campaign.

Johal became the youngest Sikh professional football coach when he joined the Category One Academy at Leicester.