Manager expecting a challenge as former Latic Michael O’Neill takes charge of first home game as Potters boss.

Watch | Paul Cook looks ahead to Latics’ clash at Stoke City
Cook looks forward to coming up against Michael O’Neill in his first home match in charge of the Potters.
Cook: “For our lads, it is about us going down there and making sure we have done everything we can by 5pm to have won the game.”

Wigan Athletic manager Paul Cook is looking forward to coming up against Michael O’Neill in his first home match in charge of Stoke City.

O’Neill – a former Latics player – led Stoke to a 4-2 win at Barnsley prior to the international break after he was appointed as the manager at the Bet365 Stadium.

Cook and O’Neill went head-to-head in their respective spells in the League of Ireland with Sligo Rovers and Shamrock Rovers and Cook says their relationship has grown since their rival days.

“We were very competitive in Ireland,” Cook said. “It was great to see Michael go on and be successful and we have gone on to become friends, probably more so than we were in Ireland.

“I have seen him at games and he will know our team well from coming here a lot to watch Will Grigg. He’s a former Wigan player and it is great to see him come into club football; I imagine he is finding it very different already but I am sure Michael will find that our for himself quickly!”

Latics come into the game following a 3-0 defeat at Brentford prior to the international break, though positive news has flowed since with Kieffer Moore and David Marshall impressing on the international stage.

“Kieffer had two exceptionally good games; it was fantastic for Wales to qualify,” Cook continued. “David played and Scotland are on the back of a good run of three wins to finish their campaign.

“Everyone has come back well; it makes it difficult that Kieffer only comes back yesterday but that’s just part of football.

“I think it is great for Wales and the home nations that there is the chance to qualify; Scotland have a play-off coming up, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland have a chance too.

“It is great for us that our players are qualifying and getting to play in these big tournaments, which only enhances football in the UK.”

A big game on Saturday, no doubt, Cook acknowledges the challenge ahead for his side but he says they have to take everything to their hosts on Saturday.

“Stoke aren’t in a position in the league where they want to be and they are equipped and built to be in a much better position,” he explained.

“You can see the calibre of player and infrastructure they have but for us it is a game in which we did well last season.

“We are going into it off the back of a really disappointing performance and result, by far our lowest point after a month to six weeks in which we had played really well – we hadn’t taken enough points – and that’s the criticism of myself and the players. If we had have took more points and gained more success then the Brentford result wouldn’t have been as bitter, albeit it would have still been a bitter pill to swallow.

“We go into the game with Stoke fans up for the game for Michael’s first home match in charge after a good win before the international break.

“For our lads, though, it is about us going down there and making sure we have done everything we can by 5pm to have won the game.”

Watch | Paul Cook looks ahead to Latics’ clash at Stoke City