The Kolo Toure era at Wigan Athletic is here after it was confirmed yesterday that the 41-year-old would be tasked with steering the ship at the DW Stadium.
It has been a rather lengthy process to find Leam Richardson’s successor, with the likes of Neil Critchley, Duncan Ferguson and Chris Wilder being mentioned in association with the Wigan job.
However, it is former Liverpool and Arsenal defender Toure who has been given his opportunity in the hot seat at the Championship club.
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Here, we take a look at two former Wigan players that would fit perfectly into Toure’s current starting XI…
Sam Morsy
It remains to be seen how Wigan will operate under their new boss, but being an extremely influential part of how Leicester have progressed under Brendan Rodgers, it gives a slight indication as to how the Latics might approach things.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is someone that has thrived at the start of this campaign, with the young midfielder mixing relentless energy and excellent technical ability.
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When was the last time that Wigan played in League Two (fourth tier)?
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This is something that Sam Morsy provided during his time at the DW Stadium and something he continues to provide in League One with Ipswich Town.
A real enforcer too, he would have likely played an integral role in what is looking like a relegation battle for the Latics, although there is a large chunk of the campaign left to play.
Kal Naismith
Versatility and adaptability are two very important traits in a player when a new manager comes in.
Toure is likely to assess his options and make some changes at the DW Stadium, whilst trialling a few things out at the helm at Wigan.
This would have suited a player like Naismith who has proved over the last 15 months or so that he can put in excellent performances at Championship level in different areas of the pitch.
Since he arrived at Bristol City, he has predominantly operated as a central defender and has been a consistent source of ball progression.
With Wigan possessing a few technically-gifted players, playing through the thirds with someone like Naismith in the team would certainly help Toure unlock the full potential of some of the members of his squad.
