Will Goodwin joins Wigan Athletic on loan ✍️
Wigan Athletic have signed Will Goodwin on loan from Championship side, Oxford United, for the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign.
Wigan Athletic have signed Will Goodwin on loan from Championship side, Oxford United, for the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign.
The 22-year-old forward has struggled for consistent game time in the Championship after winning promotion with the U’s last season.
🗓️ Born: 7th May 2002 (Age: 22)
👕 Position: Centre Forward.
👟 Strong Foot: Right
Part One: An overview of Goodwin’s career.
Part Two: Goodwin’s role at Wigan.
An overview of Goodwin’s career ⚽️
Cheshire-born Will Goodwin began his career in the Chester FC Academy at the age of nine.
After progressing through the Seals’ youth ranks, notably captaining the side and scoring six goals in three FA Youth Cup qualifying fixtures, the forward signed his first professional contract in June 2020. ✍️
In order to gain experience in the senior game, Goodwin was loaned out to Stalybridge Celtic in October 2020 on a one-month youth loan at the age of 18. The Northern Premier side were 21st when he joined but won just one game and drew two in his six-game stint.
Goodwin returned to Chester and made his senior league debut in a 13-minute cameo in a November 2020 National League North fixture against Gateshead.
His first start came a game later against Alfreton which Chester won 3-0. Starts against York City and Hereford followed, but then Goodwin was only used off the bench twice in the next six games until mid-Janaury.
The forward’s only goal for Chester in a first-team setting came at home to Bradford PA in the FA Trophy with an 87th-minute strike.
On February 2nd 2021, Stoke City announced that they had signed the forward to their Under 23s Premier League 2 squad ✍️
“We were going through his social media to make sure there are no red flags, as we do with all signings, and we saw the picture of him walking out with Stoke at the cup final. It’s added to the charm.”
Gareth Owen, Stoke City Academy Director
Goodwin made his PL2 debut from the bench at halftime against Burnley U21s in a 2-1 victory. After another second half introduced in a 2-1 win over Norwich City U21s, Goodwin made a run of six consecutive starts and scored his first goal in a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United U21s. The forward then assisted the winner in the next game against West Brom U21s.
The forward did not taste defeat in the regular season with six wins and three draws in his nine appearances. Stoke qualified for the PL2 Play-Offs, but were then beaten 2-0 by Sunderland U21s.
On August 11th 2021, Goodwin joined Hartlepool United on loan in League Two for some valuable EFL experience. ✍️
The forward started against Barrow just three days after joining and scored on debut. ⚽️
Goodwin then started the next five games and provided assists in a 2-1 victory over Carlisle United and a 1-0 victory over Bristol Rovers.
The forward made just four appearances in the league from October to January with just two starts. However, he did start in all four of Hartlepool’s four EFL Trophy games, scoring a goal in the Second Round against Sheffield Wednesday, and made an appearance off the bench in an FA Cup Second Round win away at Lincoln City.
The forward then returned to Stoke for the second half of the 2021/22 Premier League 2 campaign.
The forward made five starts in seven appearances for the U21s and assisted the opener against West Brom U21s in the final game of the regular season. The Potters entered the Play-Off stages, and Goodwin scored a 90th-minute goal against Nottingham Forest U21s in the Semi Final - to set up a Final against Wolves.
Unfortunately, Stoke lost 2-0 in the last game and could not lift the trophy.
On July 19th 2022, Torquay United announced the signing of Will Goodwin for their 2022/23 National League campaign. ✍️
“He’s a big lad, he’s another striker that we felt we needed to get in, and he can play 9, 10, 7 or 11 for all those that remember the old numbers!”
Torquay United Manager, Gary Johnson
The forward made his debut on August 6th 2022 with a start against Oldham Athletic. Goodwin then started in each of his next 23 appearances, netting goals against Southend United, Solihull Moors, Maidenhead United, Aldershot, Dagenham and Redbridge, and Oldham Athletic. He also assisted against Altrincham to take his record to 6 goals and 1 assist in 24 appearances.
Torquay United played Derby County in the First Round of the FA Cup, where Goodwin scored and assisted their two goals to set up a replay (remember those?!) at Pride Park. The Rams won the reverse fixture 5-0.
Goodwin’s impressive form in the National League caught the attention of Cheltenham Town and the League One side captured his signing in the January 2023 transfer window ✍️
Goodwin made his debut in the EFL Trophy Quarter Final fixture at home to Salford City, where the forward scored a 66th-minute goal to wrap up the game with a 3-1 scoreline.
Wade Elliott then handed Goodwin five starts in fifteen League One games for the second half of their campaign, but the forward was unable to contribute directly to any goals as the Robins finished 16th at the end of the season. A groin injury kept him from participating in six games between February and March.
In preparation for the 2023/24 campaign, Goodwin rolled his ankle in pre-season training. A scan was conducted and the forward missed the opening day of the League One season. 🤕
Two short cameos against Bolton and Reading were followed by a start away at Fratton Park to face Portsmouth. A 0-0 extended the Robins’ goalless start to four games. Goodwin made just one appearance in the next six games as he continued to fully recover from his ankle injury.
A 17-minute substitute appearance at home to Fleetwood on October 3rd signalled his return after five games out, but a 2-0 defeat took their goalless start to eleven games.
Cheltenham had sacked Wade Elliott and appointed Darrell Clarke on September 29th, and the new Gaffer showed confidence in Goodwin by handing him a start at home to Derby County. The forward assisted the Robins’ first goal of the campaign and started the next nine consecutive games. 💫
The Robins then won their first game of the campaign with a 1-0 victory at home to Cheltenham Town, and Goodwin scored his first senior brace a game later in a 3-2 defeat at Blackpool.
A victory against Port Vale and a draw at home to Wigan Athletic followed before Goodwin scored in each of their next four games against Oxford United, Charlton Athletic, Bristol Rovers, and Leyton Orient. 👏
Unfortunately, just five minutes into the next game against Carlisle United, Goodwin was forced to come off with a thigh injury from a heavy collision. This saw the forward feature in just one of the next four games as he worked his way back to full fitness. 🤕
On January 19th 2024, Oxford United announced that they had signed the forward on a long-term deal, but that he would “complete his rehabilitation with the club’s medical team before joining the squad for full training at the end of the month.” ✍️
Goodwin made his debut for the U’s off the bench in a 1-1 draw away at Blackpool. After missing the 4-2 win over Wigan Athletic, the forward made six substitute appearances in a row and provided his first assist for the club in a 2-2 draw with Northampton Town.
Des Buckingham handed Goodwin his first start for Oxford away at Port Vale on March 16th, but after being brought off at half time with his team 1-0 up, Goodwin missed the last seven games after picking up a knock to his leg. Buckingham did not want to risk re-aggravating the recent thigh injury.
In preparation for the 2024/25 Championship season with newly promoted Oxford United, Goodwin damaged some ankle ligaments in pre-season and was ruled out until October.
The forward made the bench in the first four games of the month but was not used. His first appearance of the current season came in a 9-minute cameo in a 2-0 defeat away at Sunderland on October 26th.
Goodwin made the matchday squad for the next six consecutive matches but made just two appearances from the bench with five minutes to in the Watford and Millwall fixtures.
Since the start of December, Goodwin has made the matchday squad just once in the last seven games but has not picked up any minutes.
Will Goodwin Stats by Club
🔴 Cheltenham Town | 32 Apps | 7 Goals | 1 Assist
🟡 Torquay United | 26 Apps | 7 Goals | 2 Assists
🔴 Stoke City U21s | 19 Apps | 2 Goals | 2 Assists
🦌 Hartlepool | 15 Apps | 2 Goals | 2 Assists
🟡 Oxford United | 11 Apps | 1 Goal | 0 Assists
🔵 Chester FC | 6 Apps | 0 Goals | 0 Assists
Goodwin’s role at Wigan 🤝
After Josh Stones’ departure this week to join York City in the National League, Wigan Athletic have been left without any permanent centre-forwards at the club.
Josh Stones departs Wigan Athletic 🗞️
Wigan Athletic have confirmed that Josh Stones has joined York City in the National League on a permanent transfer.
Will Goodwin joins as the third forward option who is on loan alongside Dale Taylor and Joe Hugill. While I was hoping to see a forward signed on a permanent deal, Goodwin’s goalscoring record at Cheltenham Town during their difficult 2023/34 League One campaign does offer something to get excited about.
Wigan Athletic’s current forward options.
Will Goodwin (Age: 22) - On loan from Oxford United
Dale Taylor (Age: 21) - On loan from Nottingham Forest U21s
Joe Hugill (Age: 21) - On loan from Manchester United
Our latest forward has played with Scott Smith before during their time on loan at Torquay United. He has also partnered Alfie May upfront for Cheltenham Town and been amongst a Play-Off winning side in Oxford United as they earned a promotion to the Championship.
Goodwin has experience playing as a sole frontman, half of a partnership, or as a wide forward cutting in from the wings, and this will suit Maloney as Latics’ attacks are largely built from wing play.
“He already has experience in League One and is the type of character we want in the dressing room. He has different attributes to our other forward players and adds a new dynamic to our frontline.”
Shaun Maloney speaking to Wigan Athletic
The 22-year-old has not featured in any cup competitions this season, so could be available for our trip to Mansfield Town in the FA Cup next weekend. Our next League One fixture is away at Stevenage on January 18th where Goodwin could make his league debut.
Welcome to Wigan Athletic, Will Goodwin!
Up the Tics 🔵⚪️
🙌 Thank you for reading!
✍🏼 Charlie Keegan / Central Wigan
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