Aston Villa winger Marc Albrighton is grateful to Wigan Athletic for his loan experience.
The midfielder has revived his career after a spell at the DW.
Albrighton told Villa's website: "On the day of the open training session at Villa Park, he told me Wigan were keen to take me. I knew Owen Coyle had tried to get me when he was at Bolton so it was good to go to a club where I knew the manager rated me.
"It was good to experience another club. I've been here since I was eight, and as fantastic as it is, you need to see other places and I'm glad I did. Wigan's facilities are not even close to Villa's but I enjoyed my time there and if that has helped me to play more here I'm over the moon. It was well worthwhile going there and I can't thank them enough."