Friday night’s televised clash between the lowly Latics and Wednesday could carry the added interest of seeing up to eight deadline day captures make their debuts.
Seven of those late recruits belong to Wigan, who were the nation’s biggest negotiators on Tuesday’s deadline day.
Warren Joyce certainly needed to shake up his team, who are languishing three points adrift of safety, despite earning back-to-back victories against Burton and Brentford.
Youngsters James Weir (loan), Mikael Mandron, Jack Byrne and Josh Laurent have bolstered Joyce’s options, as players who will hope to at least knock on the door of the Latics’ starting XI.
Their youthfulness will be blended with the experience of fellow signings Matt Gilks, Alex Bruce and former Manchester United winger Gabriel Obertan, who will all be hoping to stake a claim for a maiden start against the Owls.
However, 23-year-old striker Omar Bogle is undoubtedly the most eye-catching name on Athletic’s large list of deadline day signings.
Bogle tops the scoring charts in League Two, after netting 19 times this season for newly promoted Grimsby Town. That total is five less goals than the whole Wigan team combined.
Speaking of newly-added firepower, Wednesday managed to improve their strike force in the dying embers of deadline by bringing in Jordan Rhodes from Middlesbrough.
The goal machine will need no introduction to fans of the Football League. Rhodes has notched 172 career goals at the heathy age of 26, and is a proven scorer at this level.
The former Blackburn hitman will join an Owls side that has struggled to score enough goals to establish themselves within the top six.
Despite only winning one of their last five league encounters, Carvalhal’s men are only out of the play-off spots on goal difference.
They will travel to the DW Stadium in search of their first three-point haul on the road since Boxing Day.
A bid for an away victory will not be helped by the suspensions of enforcer Sam Hutchinson and experienced forward Steven Fletcher, who were both sent off in the recent reverse at Brighton.
The Latics will be hoping to win at home for only the fourth time this term – they have the worst home record in the entire division.
Sky Bet Odds:
Wigan 21/10
Draw 21/10
Sheffield Wednesday 6/4
