Friends reunited but only after derby clash

FORMER Wigan Athletic teammates Tom Cleverley and Gary Caldwell will be on opposite sides of the big Devon divide when Plymouth Argyle take on Exeter City at St James Park on Thursday night.

- By CHRIS ERRINGTON

It will be Caldwell’s third anniversary of being appointed as Exeter boss on Friday, and just his second game in charge of the Grecians was a 4-2 defeat by Argyle at Home Park.

For Argyle head coach Cleverley this will be his first experience of a Devon derby, and it will involve a reunion with someone he played alongside during the 2011/12 season when he was on loan from Manchester United to Wigan Athletic.

Cleverley made 19 starts and six substitute appearances for the Latics in the Premier League, and scored four goals. Caldwell was among his teammates during that time as Wigan finished the season in 16th position.

“He was my captain at Wigan,” said Cleverley. “Me and Gary have got one year’s history together. You could tell he was a future coach, for sure.