PAUL COOK admits Wigan’s friendly with Rangers next weekend is a ‘cracker’ for the Championship club.

Latics boss Cook will bring his side north of the border on Sunday, July 29 as they provide the Gers’ final opposition before the Premiership opener against Aberdeen.

Wigan will spend the coming days at the La Cala resort that the Light Blues used last month.

Steven Gerrard and his new backroom staff spent ten days at the camp near Marbella as they kicked-off their preparations for the new season.

Former Ibrox forward Kal Naismith could return to Glasgow as part of the Athletic squad following his switch to the DW Stadium.

Cook said: “The lads are now off to La Cala for another training camp.

“It’ll be great to get away... I was going to say for some warm weather training, but we haven’t really had any bad weather here!

“That’ll be a good break and we’ve got a couple more fixtures when we’re back against Chesterfield and then Rangers, which is a cracker for everyone.

“I think for a long time ‘warm weather’ training was the key because it guarantees the weather to train and practice shapes, but also for me as a manager it’s a time to get away and if you have got new players it integrates them into the group.

“The days of booze filled trips are well gone now. We’ll go out for a meal together and stuff like that, but it’s a lot more professional in that respect.

“It’s an enjoyable week away for the lads and it’s a great opportunity for us to outline our plans for next season and what we want to achieve.”