Reserve team boss feels striker Lee Hughes is making progress after the striker scored his first goal for the club.

Hughes, 31, netted Latics' goal in the 3-1 reserve defeat against Shrewsbury at the New Meadow, and completed another 90 minutes as he continues to build his fitness.

The frontman joined the club last month and has made significant progress after spending a considerable amount of time out of the professional game.

Hughes had several chances against the Shrews -- eventually converting in the second half after latching on to a long ball -- and Duxbury feels there's more to come:

"Hughesy did better as the game went on, but he will be disappointed not to have scored a hat-trick," he revealed.

"He knows that and he's getting frustrated at the moment because it will take a while to get him back up to full speed as he's been away from the game.

"Lee will come up against centre-halves who want to wind him up and kick him because of who he is, and he has to be clever and not let that affect him."

The reserve game was Hughes' first for the second string, but he has already made three appearances for the senior side.

The ex-West Brom man started against Hartlepool and Southend before coming off the bench in the second half of Saturday's 3-0 win at Walsall.

He is continuing to follow a strict fitness programme, and is still clocking up extra time on the training ground.

It's all a part of getting himself back into the professional game, and Duxbury revealed there's still a long road ahead.

He said: "Myself and Tommy [Wright, assistant manager] have been out for extra sessions in the afternoons with Lee based around a centre-forward's play.

"That's things like runs, shooting, quick one-twos and hold-up play in and around the box.

"Hughesy's getting in good positions and making good runs now, but it's slow progress and we can't do any more -- he just needs matches."