Sonny Perkins is not short of ambition. Speaking ahead of Wigan Athletic's League One fixture against Leyton Orient, the striker made his intentions plain: he wants to score as many goals as possible, and he is not in the mood to qualify that statement.

It is the sort of declaration that supporters tend to receive with a knowing smile at this level. Third-tier football can be unforgiving, and strikers who arrive trailing expectations have a habit of finding that League One defences are less accommodating than the billing suggests. Perkins, though, appears to mean it straightforwardly, and there is something refreshing about a forward who says the obvious thing without dressing it up in corporate caution.

A striker looking to make his mark

The context matters. Wigan have had an eventful early part of the season by any measure. Their pre-season was described by one voice close to the camp as "tough", and their opening League One fixture brought a sobering assessment from manager Shaun Caldwell, who admitted his side had been "too easy to play against". That kind of public honesty from the dugout either galvanises a squad or unsettles it; the coming weeks will offer a clearer verdict.

Into that environment, Perkins is pitching himself as the man to provide answers at the sharp end. Goals change narratives quickly in the third tier. A striker who hits a run of form in August and September can shift the mood of an entire football club before the autumn has properly set in.

What Leyton Orient will bring

The visitors to the DW Stadium are Leyton Orient, a club who know something about ambition themselves. Orient have been a fixture in League One in recent seasons and will arrive with their own ideas about what the division's early weeks should look like for them.

Wigan versus Orient is exactly the kind of fixture that tends to define opening-month form. Neither side will want to lose it. The table is still malleable enough that a victory feels significant and a defeat feels like a setback worth analysing. For Perkins, it represents an early opportunity to back his words with action in front of the home support.

The bigger picture at Wigan

Wigan's summer has been busy off the pitch as well as on it. The club has brought in new faces, seen others leave (including midfielder Tobias Brenan, who joined Bromley, and long-serving defender Ibane Adeeko), and tied down Manchester City centre-back Finley Burns on a three-year deal. Owner's investment has been referenced in positive terms by Caldwell in recent weeks, suggesting the club feels it is building on firmer foundations than some of its more turbulent recent history.

Whether Perkins is the striker to make that ambition count in goals and points is the question the rest of the season will answer. On the evidence of his pre-match comments, he at least understands what is being asked of him, and he is not pretending the job is anything other than straightforward: score goals, as many as possible, and let the rest follow.

For Wigan's supporters, that kind of directness from a centre-forward is not unwelcome. They have seen enough hedged optimism in recent years. A striker who states his purpose plainly and then goes out and tries to deliver it is, at minimum, a change of register. The Orient game will be an early test of whether the intention translates.

Frequently asked

When do Wigan Athletic play Leyton Orient?
The fixture is scheduled for 21 August 2026, according to the BBC Radio Manchester interview with Sonny Perkins broadcast ahead of the game.
Who is Sonny Perkins?
Sonny Perkins is a striker currently playing for Wigan Athletic in League One.
How have Wigan Athletic started the League One season?
Wigan's early-season form has been mixed. Manager Shaun Caldwell acknowledged after their opening fixture that his side had been too easy to play against, and the club has made several signings during the summer to strengthen the squad.