Wigan Athletic chief outlines Ryan Trevitt fitness blueprint - 'wrapping him in cotton wool'
How Gary Caldwell plans to manage Ryan Trevott following his return to fitness in midweek
Gary Caldwell says Ryan Trevitt will not be 'wrapped in cotton wool' after the midfielder returned to the Wigan Athletic fold in midweek.
The 23-year-old made a late substitute appearance in the latter stages of the goalless draw with Mansfield Town.
His only previous outing was an 11-minute cameo at the end of the home defeat to Leyton Orient in August, before he suffered the latest of a number of injuries that have blighted his career to date.
Despite the player missing seven months of last term - when he was on loan from Premier League Brentford - Latics signed him on a permanent basis over the summer.
That was because Caldwell had twice worked with the player during loan spells at Exeter City, and believes the sky's the limit if a solution can be found to his frustrating injury problems.
"He's sensational," gushed Caldwell. "When you see him move, the way he carries the ball, the way he passes the ball...and I've said this for a number of years now.
"I first set eyes on Ryan at Brentford 'B', and I brought him down to Exeter. I lost him, and then managed to bring him back to Exeter.
"And I had to move to Wigan to get him for a third time.
"I can't speak highly enough of Ryan. He's been out for such a long time, but he's put in so much work in the gym, so much detail, to get back to full fitness.
"Now it's up to us - and Ryan - to get that balance right, from playing, from training, to make sure we look after him."
When asked whether the player would be afforded special treatment to prevent him suffering further injuries, the Latics boss added: "I don't think it's necessarily a case of wrapping him in cotton wool.
"At times it's that, but it's also about getting the right recovery, the right training, and he has to be ready to play when he's asked to play.
"We've looked at all the injuries he's had over the last few years, and all the time we're trying to learn so that this time we're better prepared.
"From his side, Ryan will do everything right, he's a top professional, and fingers crossed luck is on his side. because you always need a little bit of luck in this game."