HUGHES WILL MAKE SHOCK LESS LIKELY

WIGAN manager Paul Cook believes Southampton’s appointment of Mark Hughes has made his job of taking a fourth Premier League scalp much harder.

League One Wigan have already seen off Bournemouth, West Ham and Manchester City in this season’s FA Cup but the arrival of Hughes, who won the cup four times as a player, could make Saints tougher opponents than if Mauricio Pellegrino had stayed in charge.

‘Southampton have got an experienced manager. We are really disappointed from our point of view because of the lift he’ll give the club,’ said Cook, who played with Hughes’ assistant Mark Bowen at Norwich.

‘No disrespect to the previous manager but Premier League status would have been the most important thing. Mark might come into it and think they can do both.

‘Who knows? His record stands up to anyone as a manager and player.’