No sentiment at Wigan for Wolves' Dicko
Striker Nouha Dicko is happy to help relegate old club Wigan Athletic - as he admitted Wolves will have under-achieved by missing out on the play-offs.
The 22-year-old makes his first return to the DW Stadium tomorrow since joining Wolves for £300,000 15 months ago.
Both clubs need to win – Kenny Jackett's side to retain hope of the play-offs and the Latics to try to avoid the drop.
Their situation has improved, though, with Rotherham having three points deducted for fielding an ineligible player.
Many Wolves fans are happy with their current position of eighth in their first season back in the Championship.
But for Dicko, it's all about a Wolves win to make up for the disappointment of failing to achieve a top-six spot.
He said: "It looks difficult but it's still possible and we still believe," he said. "We hope we can make the play-offs because it's the least we should have achieved this season.
"Maybe with more fortune we'd have been at the top. We have the quality but maybe we haven't been fortunate enough at some key times."
Dicko also believes Wolves have faltered when they pressure has been on, saying: "When we had the pressure on us to stay in the play-off places, we haven't done well.
"But we can still change things and with some luck we can still make the play-offs."
Wigan played a key role in Dicko's story and he will always be thankful for the part they played in his development, after they signed him from Strasbourg as a 19-year-old in 2011.
In two-and-a-half years, he never played a League game for the Latics but featured in nine cup ties.
He also enjoyed two goalscoring loans with Blackpool in the Championship, which brought him to Jackett's attention.
But sentiment will go out of the window tomorrow, with Dicko saying: "I'll be ready for them and I'll have no regrets or feelings, if I score and if I play well against them.
"It's football – two years ago I was at Wolves when we were relegated. It's a really bad feeling and you don't feel happy living through a relegation.
"But it's not the end of the world and maybe good things can come out of it – if they go down, they can rebuild like Wolves.
"I want them to stay up but we have to win, so that's only thing I have in mind.
"For me the game will be a bit special. Wigan gave me a chance with my first professional contract.
"Maybe I'll be a bit emotional but not too much – I still have to do my job and I'm motivated to play against them."
At Wolves, Dicko has struck up thrilling partnership with Benik Afobe and Bakary Sako and the powerful forward wants the trio to stay in tandem next season.
He said: "I wished I could have played with Benik earlier in the season. Hopefully, Wolves can keep hold of him because he'll attract clubs in the summer.
"I hope he stays because he's done fantastically well. It's just the beginning for him and the beginning of our partnership for Wolves.
"Everyone knows the special relationship I have with Bakary. He's been really good with everyone and remained professional.
"Who knows what the future holds for him, but I'll wish him all the best."
