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Wigan boss praises Wolves' Nouha Dicko

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Wolves striker Nouha Dicko has been praised for bouncing back - by the Wigan Athletic manager hoping he doesn't send them down on Saturday.

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Dicko returns to the DW Stadium this weekend for the first time since his £300,000 move to Wolves in January 2014.

The 22-year-old has been a big success at Molineux, scoring 25 goals in 54 League games, with 13 this season.

Dicko never played a League game for Wigan with his only action for the club in nine cup games.

Instead he was forced to find his first-team football elsewhere with loan spells at Blackpool and Rotherham.

And new Wigan boss Gary Caldwell - one of Dicko's former Latics team-mates - believes he has shown huge reserves of character.

Caldwell said: "In football, if you don't have the mental toughness and the resilience to cope with setbacks, you've no chance.

"Every player, whether you're a (Cristiano) Ronaldo or a (Lionel) Messi, or down in the lower leagues, you're going to have had setbacks.

"You need to be ready for that and come again, and he's done that and done very well to forge a successful career for himself."

Nouha Dicko during his days playing for Wigan Atheltic.

Caldwell is aware of Dicko's danger and has singled him out as one to watch against his old club.

The Scot said: "He's a big threat. He didn't get his opportunity here, and he went away and has done tremendously well for himself at Wolves.

"He's been playing regularly, scoring goals and really causing havoc for defences. We've watched him, we know his threat and we'll be ready for the challenge that he proves for defenders."

Meanwhile, Wolves other strike threat, Benik Afobe, believes he is "unstoppable" as he chases more goals.

The £2m striker scored his 31st goal of the season in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Ipswich and 12th in 19 games since moving to Wolves in January.

Afobe is the country's leading scorer with one goal more than Tottenham and England striker Harry Kane and the former Arsenal youngster believes he can carry on scoring.

He said: "I had self-belief (at Arsenal) but when you play week in, week out you're going to get more confidence - it's a different type of confidence - it's one to know you're unstoppable," he said.

"I wanted 30 goals. I got to 30 and now I want to keep scoring, I want to get to 35. People have asked 'what's my favourite goal?' I always say 'the next one'."

"It doesn't matter what league I'm playing in, I'm going to score. It's the mentality you've got to change to be a top goalscorer and I've realised that.

"All the top goalscorers who score week in, week out like Messi and (Sergio) Aguero, they believe they're going to score before they've had a chance.

"That's the only difference between a top goalscorer and an average striker."

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