Rising star back in Wigan first team squad after ‘excellent’ loan spell
Photo: Olly Hassell/SWpix
Highly-rated youngster Zach Eckersley could make his first appearance of the year in Wigan’s first team in Sunday’s clash with Wakefield.
The 19-year-old centre has enjoyed two successful loan spells in the Championship this season with London and Widnes.
Eckersley made four appearances for London earlier in the season. He has recently returned to the Warriors after scoring four tries in two games for Widnes.
The Oldham-born back has been named in Matt Peet’s 21-man squad for Sunday’s Round 10 clash with Super League strugglers Wakefield at the DW Stadium.
Zach Eckersley making the most of his loan opportunities
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Peet was full of praise for Eckersley following his short-term loan with the Vikings.
“Zack Eckersley, I watched his game from Widnes, I thought he as excellent,” Peet said.
“He looked like a player we need to create opportunities for and he’s putting pressure on the players above him.
“John Duffy (transition coach) is doing a really good job as is John Winder with our reserve grade; and our pathways with Shane Eccles.
“This is a club where, I was asked last week when Mike Cooper got injured, about where we’re going to look for reinforcements and the first one is Harvie Hill. That’s our philosophy.
“Sometimes you’ve got to bring in talent from above. But more often than not we look at driving players through the pathway.”
Meanwhile, half-back Rowan Milnes is expected to make his Wakefield debut on Sunday. He has arrived on a short-term loan deal from Hull KR.
Wigan: French, King, Wardle, Marshall, Smith, Powell, Byrne, Isa, Farrell, Smithies, Ellis, Havard, Pearce-Paul, Shorrocks, Mago, O’Neill, Miski, Hill, Nsemba, Eckersley, Forber.
Wakefield: Faufua, Lyne, Gaskell, Lino, Battye, Whitbread, Ashurst, Tanginoa, Pitts, Kay, Bowden, Atoni, Kershaw, Proctor, Langi, Bowes, Eseh, Pratt, Hewitt, Dagger, Milnes.
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