Macclesfield Town have confirmed that on-loan goalkeeper Owen Evans has returned to his parent club Wigan Athletic.

The 23-year-old arrived at Moss Rose on a season-long loan from the Latics in the summer and was immediately made the club’s first-choice goalkeeper. Since then, he went on to be an important part of the side as they look to consolidate their position in League Two, despite ongoing trouble behind the scenes.

In the league, Evans has made 24 appearances, along with two more in the League Cup, keeping six clean sheets in the league and one in the cup in the process.

Making his way up the footballing ladder through the Hereford United before making the move to the DW Stadium, Evans was labelled a ‘hot prospect’ in Lancashire and arrived to gain some much-needed first-team experience, to which he did so very impressively under Darryl McMahon before the Irish manager resigned recently.

He now returns to Wigan Athletic hoping that the impression he has made for the Silkmen is enough to either stake a claim for Paul Cook’s first-team or secure a move to a club higher up than Macclesfield for the rest of the season and beyond.

Macclesfield now have the task of looking to replace him this month as they battle against relegation out of the EFL.

The Verdict

This is a huge blow for Macclesfield who might struggle to replace his quality this month, given the nature of the January transfer window, along with their crippling financial crisis that continues to plague the club on and off the pitch.

Evans will know he can operate further up the ladder after this loan spell, and Paul Cook has a decision to make now about where his future lies.