Gary Caldwell has expressed optimism about Wigan Athletic's readiness as the League One club prepare to face Leyton Orient, telling BBC Radio Manchester that "the squad is in a good place" ahead of the fixture.

Caldwell's mood ahead of the Orient clash

The Wigan manager's comments, aired on 20 August, came as the Latics look to build momentum in the third tier following what has been an eventful summer at the DW Stadium. Caldwell spoke with measured confidence, suggesting the group he has assembled is cohesive and prepared for the demands of another League One campaign.

It is a notable tone from the Wigan head coach, given that his side were described as "too easy to play against" by Caldwell himself following their opening fixture. The suggestion that the squad's mood and preparation has since improved will be encouraging for supporters who have watched the club navigate a busy pre-season and a series of changes to the playing roster.

A fixture with shape to it

Leyton Orient arrive as a club with genuine ambitions of their own in the third tier. A visit to Wigan represents a stern test for the London side, and the clash has the feel of a game between two clubs who will expect to be competitive across the full breadth of the season.

From Wigan's perspective, the home fixture offers an opportunity to demonstrate that the concerns Caldwell raised after the opening match have been addressed on the training ground. The manager's pre-match briefing, understood to be centred on positional organisation and collective discipline, suggests he is focusing on the structural issues that were exposed early in the campaign.

A squad reshaped over the summer

Wigan have moved with purpose in the transfer market since the curtain came down on last season. The club secured Manchester City central defender Finley Burns on a three-year deal, a signing that speaks to a clear intent to build from the back. Further additions on loan have bolstered the attacking options available to Caldwell, while several departures, including that of long-serving midfielder Tobias Brenan to Bromley, have reshaped the group's character as much as its personnel.

The departure of Adeeko, a player who made 80 League One appearances for the club, also closed a chapter, though Caldwell's public confidence in the current crop suggests he believes the pieces are now fitting together.

Pre-season itself was described as physically demanding by a member of the first-team squad, and the club's approach, blending data analysis with traditional drills and a stated emphasis on collective values, has evidently been absorbed. Whether that preparation translates into a positive result against Leyton Orient will be the measure the support takes most notice of.

What to watch for

Leyton Orient will pose questions of their own. The east London club travel to the north-west with ambitions that mirror Wigan's, and any team facing the Latics at the DW Stadium will be looking to exploit the vulnerability Caldwell himself identified after the opener.

For Wigan, the key will be demonstrating that the squad cohesion Caldwell speaks of is not merely mood-board optimism but something grounded in the work done on the training pitch. If the structural discipline improves and the new additions click into their roles, this fixture offers a genuine opportunity to settle into the rhythm of a long League One season with something positive to show for it.

Caldwell's assessment, brief as it was in the BBC Radio Manchester preview, at least signals that the dressing room is pulling in the right direction. In League One, that kind of internal alignment matters as much as individual quality, and the Wigan manager will know better than most that a settled squad in August can be the foundation for something meaningful come spring.

Frequently asked

When are Wigan Athletic playing Leyton Orient?
Wigan Athletic were due to face Leyton Orient around 20 August 2026, according to Gary Caldwell's BBC Radio Manchester preview recorded on that date. Check the official club website for confirmed kick-off details.
What has Gary Caldwell said about Wigan's form?
Caldwell told BBC Radio Manchester that the squad is 'in a good place' ahead of the Leyton Orient fixture, a more optimistic tone than after the opening match, when he admitted Wigan were 'too easy to play against'.
How have Wigan Athletic done in the transfer market this summer?
Wigan have made several moves, including signing Manchester City defender Finley Burns on a three-year deal and adding a Chelsea teenager on loan, while departures include midfielder Tobias Brenan and long-serving forward Adeeko.