Manager launches defence of Manchester United loanee after claim youngster was 'struggling'

Wigan manager Shaun Maloney has hit out at a report that suggested Joe Hugill was 'struggling' on loan and said his recent goal spurt hasn't come as a surprise due to his quality.

Manchester United identified Hugill as a youngster who would benefit from a loan this season and the striker joined Wigan to aid the next stage of his development.

Hugill was excellent for United's Under-21s in 2023/24 and although he failed to score in his first five games for Wigan, he has scored three goals in his last two appearances.

Maloney thought it was only a matter of time before Hugill scored and he converted a penalty when coming on from the bench against Morecambe in the EFL Trophy before scoring a brace against Bristol Rovers to fire Wigan to a 4-0 victory in League One at the weekend.

ALSO READ: Mount close to a return from injury

ALSO READ: Exclusive interview with Scholes and Butt

Hugill's manager was asked whether something had suddenly 'clicked' for him this month and he said, as quoted by Wigan Today: "No. He's already shown me what he can do. He's been in those positions all season, our problem has been that final pass, that final cross, into him.

"Joe's been in there, and he should have had probably double figures chances... but he hasn't been given those chances. At Bristol, those balls fell in the right areas for him.

"And you saw what happened, so it's up to us to keep finding him in those positions. I read something online written by someone that wasn't particularly positive about Joe's start here.

"It suggested he was struggling here, but he was never struggling. He was actually learning about the positions I'm wanting him to get into, and he was managing to do that.

"We just weren't finding him in the first