Ashton gets No 1 shirt
Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 8:41 am
Confirmed by brian Noble in today's Wigan Evening Post, but Nobby has warned him and all the rest that he's picking on form, not reputation. Hopefully that will light a fire under the bum of DV, by the way.
Ashton is Warriors' new No.1
Rising star Chris Ashton has been handed the No.1 shirt.
But the teenager has been warned he must be ready to battle it out for the regular full-back spot at Wigan Warriors with the vastly experienced Michael Withers.
Coach Brian Noble has dropped the biggest hint yet that Withers will not be an automatic pick despite his close-season capture from Bradford Bulls.
Ashton is a firm favourite with the Wigan fans and many are clamouring to see him stay in the first team following a host of match-winning performances last season.
That form led those same supporters to choose him as their player of the year, and Noble would seem to have his ears open to the fans' opinion.
He said: "We've given Chris the No.1 shirt, but the same rules apply to him as they do to everybody else – he has got to perform.
"Places in the Wigan first team next year will be decided on form, not reputation."
Noble has also hinted Withers and Ashton could find themselves in the same starting line-up due to the older man's versatility.
The Wigan coach has even suggested the 30-year-old Australian could provide cover for Trent Barrett at stand-off or even for Pat Richards and Mark Calderwood out on the wings.
He said: "Michael can play anywhere from one to six.
"He can turn his hand to centre or stand-off, while he started his career at Bradford on the wing.
"He's a smart player and during the seven or eight years I spent with him at Bulls, he always gave great value for money.
"Michael has bags of experience and the young players will be able to pick up a lot off him.
"Lads such as Chris would be silly not to learn from him while he's here, but I will be making judgments by taking on board current performances, not by what's happened in the past."