Wigan Athletic’s on-loan attacking midfielder Kieran Dowell has been ruled out for ‘at least a few weeks’ after aggravating an ankle injury, Paul Cook has revealed.

The Everton midfielder signed on-loan for the club after having a pretty torrid spell at Derby County in the first half of the season, looking to get his development back on track.

Dowell has impressed in previous seasons whilst on-loan at Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United, providing a goal-scoring touch from midfield that has helped those sides closer to their goals.

A move to the DW Stadium saw him get back to starting games in the Championship as the Latics battle against relegation, where his second appearance yielded an assist in the 2-1 defeat to Swansea City, where his low cross found Nathan Byrne.

Dowell was stretchered off in the 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday last month and had only just returned to training this week to recover from his ankle injury.

However, the Latics were dealt another setback with the Everton midfielder’s return to training seeing him injured again for the relegation run-in.

Speaking to the Wigan Today, Paul Cook reflected on the major setback, outlining his disappointment. He stated: "Kieran will be missing for at least a few weeks with an ankle injury.

"And it's an absolute hammer blow for us.

"He went over on his ankle at the beginning of the week in training.

"Obviously these are big blows, but this is football, and you just get on with it.

"We've had it all season, and it's been painful at times.

"But it's no use moaning or sulking, you've just got to get on with it."

With Dowell out for at least a ‘few weeks’, it would most likely see him return to action for the club in April after the March international break.

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The verdict

It’s a massive blow for the Latics to lose one of their key players for such a lengthy period, as a key creative spark in the side.

Dowell cannot seem to catch a break this season after a poor spell at Derby in the first half of the season and now this.

As he reiterates, Cook will have to make do without Dowell for a large chunk of the run-in and it’s going to be a struggle.

Other players will have to step up in the meantime as Wigan look to close the gap to the sides above them.