New signing Mullin reminiscent of myself - Lowe

Wigan Athletic boss Ryan Lowe has likened new signing Paul Mullin to himself following the striker's move last month.

Mullin, 30, joined the Latics on a season-long loan from Wrexham, where he helped gain three successive promotions to take the club from the National League to the Championship in a meteoric rise and cement himself in club folklore.

However, Mullin's influence on the pitch dwindled last season and he did not feature for The Red Dragons in the league after January.

"You only have to look at his record, he's scored 200 career goals and I see a little bit of resemblance to myself in Mulls because of what he's done and where he's come from at non-league right up to the Championship," Lowe told BBC Radio Manchester.

"Unfortunately, Wrexham wanted to go a different route and he's still contracted to them and we knew we could potentially get him in on loan.

"It was the first time I'd met him even though we live very close to each other. I did try and sign him at Plymouth a few years ago but he ended up going to Wrexham."

Lowe, scorer of over 200 career goals during an 18-year playing career in his own right, also praised Mullin for his hunger in dropping down a division in order to play more first-team football this season.

"When there's a goal-scorer like that, of that ilk, it's important that I make sure I act on that and to be fair to Mulls with the conversation I had, there was only one club he wanted to come to and that was us.

"He could have sat on the bench at Wrexham and made some cameos but he's chose to come here and hopefully score loads of goals."

Lowe also said he believes highly-rated 23-year-old goalkeeper Sam Tickle will be staying with the Latics for the upcoming season despite speculation linking him with a move away from the Brick Community Stadium.

"We've had no enquiries on Sam, there's a lot of interest and talk but we've had no official bids or anything that have come our way," Lowe added.

"Last season he was voted the best goalkeeper in the division. My challenge to Sam is go and do that again and be the best that he can be.

"I think Sam and I know that he's definitely going to be here for another year, he'll help where we want to get to and then if that's the case, he will probably go on to somewhere bigger and better and grace the Premier League.

"One more season with us will definitely help him."

Wigan begin their League One campaign at home to Northampton Town on Saturday.