Wigan manager Malky Mackay will be facing his former teammate Neil Adams this weekend who will be bringing some hungry canaries with him to the DW Stadium.
The Scotsman, who is going into his third game in charge of the Latics, made over 200 appearances for Norwich City between 1998 and 2004.
His affection towards the club has been clear and with both sides struggling in the bottom half of the Championship, it promises to be an emotional battle at the DW Stadium.
He said: “It’s a club that has been very close to my heart,” he said.
“It’s the first club I played for in England – a long time ago now – I was there for six years, my son, Callum, was born in the hospital there.
“We had some real good times there, winning promotion being a particular highlight.”
Despite the waves of nostalgia though Mackay’s side must remain fully focused in order to grab a vital win against a team who are struggling just as much as they are.
He added: “Both teams need to win the game and we’ll certainly be trying to do that.
“They’re coming to our ground and we’re a couple of weeks in now so the feet are under the table and there are a lot of plus points in terms of the people, the staff and also the players in training over this period.
“I think also the two performances that we’ve put in haven’t perhaps been rewarded with the points we’ve deserved but on the back of Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday, it certainly gives me great hope going forward.”
Wigan currently find themselves in 23rd place with only one win in 14 games but the Canaries are also stuck in a rut with only one win in 10 games.
Mackay will this week be looking to some of his youngsters as Don Cowie is available who played for the development squad in their 1-0 win against Walsall in midweek.
“It was good to get Don back playing; he had a little issue with his back so it’s good to get him minutes under his belt,” Mackay continued.
“I know what he can do and we got minutes under the belt for some of the other lads that need it as well because, if they’re not going to play on a Saturday, they need to be ready because this is a squad game and this whole week is about having a squad that is available and fit.
“For that to happen, you need to get match minutes into them so that, when they do step in, they’re ready to go.”
Main image courtesy of BBC via YouTube, with thanks.
