I trained under Ruud van Nistelrooy and can become Manchester United's number nine

"Smile Joe!" a teammate shouts across the car park.

"This'll be you soon!" Joe Hugill hollers as he finishes posing for an impromptu portrait in front of the Wigan Athletic crest.

Scrubbed boots glean under the LED lights in the main building. The communal room for players, with the obligatory dartboard on the wall, is empty. Some staff potter around the canteen and a few players are in the gym assessing their metrics with a fitness coach.

It is nearly half-past three on Tuesday and Hugill has been on the premises of Wigan's Christopher Park training ground since 9am. He is still in training attire, having attended a gym session shortly before our chat.

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Hugill, who celebrated his 21st birthday on Saturday, was absent again for Wigan's trek to Cambridge as he recovers from an ankle injury. He is hoping to be back in the side for the visit of Mansfield on Tuesday night.

His family travelled down from Durham to celebrate his milestone. When Hugill signed for Manchester United as a 16-year-old, he was accompanied by his brother, who is still with him in the north west and attends every match he is selected in.

This is Hugill's third loan away from United after spells with Altrincham in the National League and Burton in League One. He also spent work experience loans at Forest Green - when Rob Edwards was in charge - Barnsley and Blackpool.

He has a reasonable two goals in six League One appearances for Wigan. Their manager, Shaun Maloney, is pleased with his progress and felt teammates needed to seek out Hugill more during their opening matches before his breakthrough brace against Bristol