Steve Robinson admitted fitness was more important than the performance last night as his side fell to a 1-3 defeat to Championship side Preston North End.
Preston’s Eoin Doyle and Joe Garner put them two goals ahead but Latics instantly hit back with a superb strike from the trialist who smashed the ball into the top corner from 25 yards.
Garner converted a penalty three minutes later to win the game for the visitors but manager Robinson admitted his side are still a team in progress.
He said: “We know where we are pre-season wise, we know where we are fitness wise and we know what needs to be done.
"We are under no illusions about that but we are getting the personnel in now that we want. We are still after one or two more to inject a bit of pace as well, we know that and we are in the market for that.
"They went long when they needed to and the played when they needed to so it was a real big test for us. If we look at a team which we are aiming to do in this division then Preston are a great example.
"Simon has got them playing really well, they are a strong outfit and that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re at the start of what we’re trying to do whilst Preston are two years into it and they have been successful with it.
"We gave a few players 60 minutes tonight. We gave Flynn 60 minutes tonight and it’s only his fifth day of training so we have to be careful. We can’t get people injured, we have a tight-knit squad so we have to be aware of where they are in terms of fitness.
"All the new signings have done well and we’ve put a team together. We won’t get miracles straight away but I think people watching can see there is a structure to it and we are going to be a good team, we just need a bit more time.”
One player who did impress for Latics yesterday was second half substitute Billy Mckay who hassled defenders and had chances to score.
“Billy was really good tonight,” admitted the manager. “Billy looks fitter than anyone else at the club at the moment because he trained with Northern Ireland all summer and he’s been back three weeks with Wigan before we brought him here and that shows.
“The strikers are still getting their fitness in terms of Cassidy and Erwin but Billy is a very good player at this level."
With 12 new signings already through the door at SportsDirect.com Park this summer, the manager stated that is not the end of his dealings in the transfer market.
“We are actively in the market and we know what we need,” he said. “We need another striker with pace and we need a wide man with pace as well.
"I think the trialist did well so he’s one to consider but we are what we are. Our budget isn’t 20 million so we can’t go out and pick who we want.
“We have to be patient and call in a few favours with people so that’s what we’ll do."
Watch the full interview on Latics PlayerHD.