Wigan Athletic starlet likened to hero of the past

According to Max Power, the young Norwegian – Latics’ matchwinner against Blackburn on Saturday – is on his way to becoming ‘the new Nick Powell’!

And if Aasgaard manages to reach that level of quality and talent, Latics fans have plenty to look forward to in the coming years.

“We’ve seen Thelo take such huge strides of late, and he reminds me so much of Powelly,” Power told Wigan Today.

“There’s so much of Powelly’s play in him, and that’s obviously a huge compliment because everyone knows how good he was for this club.

“It’s always great when you get players like that coming through because it’s such a bonus.”

Aasgaard’s latest heroics against Blackburn have ironically set up a fourth-round meeting with Powell and Stoke City in the Potteries next month.

Having teed up his team-mate before watching him find the top corner from a ridiculous angle, Power believes the sky is the limit.

“Thelo’s a special player – we know that,” he gushed. “He’s got so much ability and for his age, he’s still growing.

“If you look at his physique, frame and technical ability, there is everything there for him to be a top player.

“He’s another one who has come through the Academy so that’s hats off to everyone there.

“They do great work there and that’s two moments now where he’s won the game for us in the last minute.

“I’m sure Thelo’s time will come. He’s firmly part of this squad and everyone knows in the squad how good and important he is.

“It’s a great moment for him to pop up and there’s no better time to do it.”

Power returned to Wigan last summer after three years at Sunderland.

And while he remembered fellow Academy product Callum Lang from his previous spell, Aasgaard was a new one on him.

“I knew Thelo was highly thought of, but I hadn’t played with him,” revealed Power.

“Coming back in the summer, even in pre-season I could see how good these lads are, and it’s great to see them showing it in the first team.

“I came here at 22, so a similar age to Langy and Thelo, and I keep telling them what a great club this is for their development.

“I’m sure they’re sick of me screaming at them in training, about the need to keep up their standards.

“But they know they have to keep kicking on, because there’s always someone else coming through who has their eyes on their shirts.”

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