Pennant signs for Wigan Athletic

Former Liverpool and Stoke winger Jermaine Pennant has joined Sky Bet Championship side Wigan Athletic F.C. until the end of the season.

Pennant, 32, left FC Pune City at the end of the Indian Super League’s inaugural campaign last year.

With his side having suffered count-less injuries in recent weeks, Wigan boss Malky Mackay has turned to Pennant to boost the Latics’ chances of staving off relegation.

“Jermaine needs no introduction in terms of what he has achieved in the game,” Mackay said. “He’s got terrific experience and is hungry for a way back into the English scene. There were a number of clubs interested, so we are delighted we can now call upon him to help us.

“He has been with us throughout the week and has trained excellently, he’s brought a breath of fresh air to the place and we’ve been bowled over by his hunger and enthusiasm.

“Jermaine has integrated straight away into the group and I’m sure he’s going to be a great addition for us.”

Allardyce laments missing out on Adebayor

West Ham United F.C. Sam Allardyce believes Emmanuel Adebayor would have been a great addition to the club had he joined during the January transfer window.

The Togo international, 30, and Roberto Soldado have been kept out of Spurs’ starting XI by England international forward Harry Kane in recent times.

Kane, 21, has tallied 23 goals and four assists in 36 appearances in all competitions for Tottenham in 2014/15, while

When asked about what Adebayor would have brought to the Hammers, Big Sam said: “Goals.

“If you see where he has gone and his initial impact at where he has been would be that he comes into a football club and scores goals on a regular basis.

“There is obviously one of those players that you have to look at him and as a manager and say ‘how do I react with him and interact with him and on the basis of how well I interact is on the basis of how well he plays for us’.

“So you use your management skills in terms of looking at his personality, like you do with most players and talking about wanting the best out of him while you are here, and wanting him to enjoy your football and do what you do best – play and score goals.

“If you are in the transfer window and a quality player comes your way and you think he is a quality player, some people say ‘do you need a player in that position?’ – but the bottom line is that he is a quality player.

“If you can get him, for me you get him if you can afford him. That is what we tried to do. There was such a short time frame at that time it was not possible to be pulled off.”