Latics forward looks ahead to Saturday’s trip to Norwich City

Callum Lang | “We want to go and put in a strong performance”
Latics forward looks ahead to Saturday’s televised clash at Norwich City
Lang: “It’s nice for them (the fans) to be supporting us and hopefully we can give something back for their long travels.”

Wigan Athletic forward Callum Lang is relishing the prospect of Saturday’s televised clash against Norwich City.

Latics will travel to Carrow Road for their first away day of the 2022/23 Sky Bet Championship campaign, aiming to build on their opening draw with local rivals Preston North End.

Speaking to Latics TV, Lang is hoping that his side can continue to use last weekend’s encouraging performance as a platform to grow from in the coming weeks.

“I think it was a solid start,” he said reflecting back.

“It was nice to get (the season) underway and our first point on the board and we’ll take that and hopefully keep moving forward.

“The main thing was to make sure that we had a solid performance. I think we did that and while three points would’ve been nice, it’s a point on the board and we’ll move on to Norwich where we will hopefully be strong again.”

Last Saturday marked Lang’s 200th career appearance since his professional debut five years ago in August 2017, and the Latics Academy graduate expressed his delight to hit the milestone at just 23.

“It’s obviously nice to be fit and playing games. That’s the main thing and hopefully, I can have another healthy season where I carry on enjoying my football.

“At the start of every season, I have my aims and goals, and a lot of them are to get as many goals and appearances for this Club so hopefully I can keep adding to that!”

Tomorrow’s trip to Carrow Road will provide Latics with an extremely healthy challenge against a side who recently plied their trade in the top-flight. Lang is under no illusions about the challenge that lies ahead and believes that it will be a good opportunity to see how far they’ve progressed as a team since their promotion.

“It will be nice to see where we are at,” he explained

“Everyone knows that it’s going to be a tough test against a side who have come down from the Premier League.

“With us just coming up, we don’t want there to be a difference (in the two sides) at all. We want to go and put in a strong performance.

“It’s going to be a tough ask but I think we’ve started strongly and had a good pre-season again so hopefully we can keep on getting performances and results.”

Over 800 Tics supporters are set to make the long trip to Norfolk, and the 23-year-old hopes that his side can express their gratitude by getting a positive result.

“They will still be there in their numbers, even with it being on the other side of the world in a 12:30 kick-off!,” he laughed.

“It’s nice for them (the fans) to be supporting us and hopefully we can give something back for their long travels.”

Callum Lang | “We want to go and put in a strong performance”