Manchester United’s loan army this season is less high-profile than in previous years because Ineos have been more ruthless, sanctioning permanent departures instead.
Joe Hugill is arguably the most high-profile name, going to Wigan Athletic to build on an encouraging pre-season for Manchester United where he scored vs Rangers.
Read More: Every Manchester United player on loan for the 2024/25 season
Unfortunately, his first few games didn’t go according to plan, with the nadir of his spell coming in a recent game where he came off after 60 minutes.
Things could be turning, however, now that Hugill has scored his first goal for Wigan Athletic in their surprise loss vs Morecambe, thereby becoming the first Manchester United loanee this season to get off the mark.
Joe Hugill gets off the mark
To say that Hugill didn’t start well at Wigan Athletic would be an understatement. Despite starting every game since his arrival, he was an anonymous presence and barely looked threatening.
Therefore, when the teamsheet dropped for their game against League Two side Morecambe, it wasn’t a surprise that he was on the bench.
Wigan manager Shaun Maloney rung the changes for his side languishing near the relegation zone in League One and Hugill was among those who made way.
Trailing at the end of the first half, Hugill was subbed on in the second half and he calmly converted a penalty won by Jamie Carragher’s son, James Carragher.
It was his first goal for the Latics in his sixth appearance and he missed the chance to double his tally later and Morecambe made his team pay.
They scored their second two minutes later to upstage their higher-division rivals in their own backyard in a major upset, winning 2-1.
Launchpad for Hugill
Although Hugill’s first goal arguably came in Wigan’s worst result so far this season, just getting off the mark is sometimes all it takes for the goals to start flowing.
Hugill has already shown at youth level that he is extremely clinical when presented with chances, just that he can’t fashion chances for himself.
In that sense, Wigan’s current predicament is not helping him as the team lurches from one loss to another, barely looking threatening.
The loss vs Morecambe at home is a new low for the Latics and next up for them is an away trip to Bristol Rovers, who are 12 places ahead of them in the league.
The fixture list is not getting any easier and Wigan’s form is not getting any better, a terrifying combination of disasters.
This is trial by fire for Joe Hugill as it’s a huge character-building loan that will get him acclimatised to coming through setbacks to return stronger.
He will hope that this goal becomes the launchpad for him to get Wigan firing with himself and start a trek up the table.
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