Digging Deeper: A Wigan expert discusses the Chris McCann signing

As reported earlier, Irish midfielder Chris McCann is joining Atlanta United from Wigan Athletic.

I spoke with Paul Kendrick, the football correspondent at the Wigan Evening Post, about McCann’s time in Wigan and what Atlanta United fans can expect.

Where might he play?

“He's a tough-tackling, box-to-box midfielder who can also play centre-back, left-back and left wing-back.”

“Played mostly midfield in the first couple of years, but played most of last year on the left hand side of the defense, partly out of necessity as he could bring out the ball...”

Was Wigan expecting him back with the club?

“He'd told me more than once he wanted to stay, he was settled in the north west, and loved his time at the club, and I know the club were really hoping to keep him as well. Seemed the gap between player/club demands was too much to bridge, but I thought he'd stay in the area, (he'd also been linked with Owen Coyle at Blackburn).”

What are some other parts of his game that Atlanta fans can expect to see?

“Great in the air, good engine, he'll do very well over there I would say!”