Wigan Athletic make their return to the Championship this season as they look to carry on their form from their title-winning year in League One in 17/18.

A side with obvious quality, they showed what they can do by dumping Manchester City out of the FA Cup last season at the DW Stadium.

Certainly, if they can keep those performances up they'll cause a few more upsets in the Championship this year and Paul Cook will no doubt be eyeing something higher that just safety from relegation.

In our latest season preview, then, we take a look at the Latics...

Key Player:

Nick Powell is the obvious answer here.

Wigan have good players across the pitch but Powell brings things altogether and should be one that opposing sides seek to disrupt and stop.

That'll be easier said than done, though, and he'll be eager to get going in the second tier once more.

One to Watch:

The youngster Da Silva Lopes signed from Peterborough United and though there is no guarantee that he's going to start week in, week out, there's a good chance we'll see snippets of him at least.

He's a talented young player with plenty of tricks and massive confidence, he's definitely one to keep an eye out for.

Promotion Odds:

At 10/1 the bookies think that Wigan have a serious chance of getting promoted or at least into the equation.

They are by no means favourites but these odds suggest that with a bit of luck and quick adaption to the league the Latics could be up there.

What's the Manager Saying?

Paul Cook is a likeable manager and he is clearly one to get the best out of his players. He's very enthusiastic about Callum McManaman's arrival and it'd be no surprise to see the winger excel this season.

First Six Fixtures:

It's a tough start.

Sheffield Wednesday have strengthened much this summer but they have quality whilst the same can be said for Aston Villa.

Nottingham Forest's prospects are well documented, as are Stoke City's, but games against Rotherham United and QPR are certainly winnable.

Saying that, the Latics should rightly fancy getting something out of most of these games.