Wigan Athletic wideman ruled out until 2026 after injury KO

The 25-year-old, who joined Latics from German side FC Nurnberg midway through last season, pulled up lame in the monsoon conditions at Stockport County last week.

And head coach Ryan Lowe revealed the extent of the damage during his weekly press duties ahead of Saturday's trip to AFC Wimbledon – which suggests we’ll be unlikely to see him until 2026 at the earliest.

"Joe will be out for a while," said Lowe. "He's done his hamstring, it's a grade two I think.

"It's not good...whether it was the heavy pitch, all that water, we're not sure...he's a fit lad with big legs, so we're a bit surprised with that.

"He won't need surgery, just a period of rest and recuperation, all the gym-based work, and hopefully he'll be back before too long.

"But again, injuries mean an opportunity for someone else, and maybe Raphael (Borges Rodriguez) can stake his claim for a regular jersey with some goals and assists."

There was better news concerning midfield duo Baba Adeeko and Tyrese Francois, who have been sidelined by injury since September 27 and August 30 respectively.

"Baba's back in training although Saturday might come too soon," said Lowe. "We'll see how he goes today, he might travel down with us.

"Tyrese is back with us and he'll be in the squad, and that gives us another option to play with."

The update on forward Maleace Asamoah Jnr was less straight-forward.

Lowe added: "Maleace has been struggling with his back, which is a day on, day off situation at the moment, which we need to get to the bottom of."

The Latics chief also has a decision to make regarding defender James Carragher, who has been away with Malta during the international break.

Carragher didn't get onto the field for either World Cup qualifier against Finland or Poland.

Given he's still finding his way back to full fitness following thigh surgery in August, Lowe must decide whether to hand his fellow Liverpudlian his first league start for 15 weeks.

"Carra's a full-blown international now, which is good for him and good for the club," said Lowe. "And to be in and around that environment with Malta is always good.

"Obviously he didn't get the minutes we'd have liked him to get, and it is a bit of a tough one because he is on the way back to full fitness.

"He could probably have played at Stockport, got more minutes, before going away with Malta and getting more minutes.

"As it is, he didn't play at Stockport, and then went away and didn't get any minutes with them.

"Now he's come back and trained with us, and we'll have to see how he is. If he's ready to play, he's ready to play.

"What we can't do is throw him in when he's not ready, and that is something we will have to manage very carefully."