Wigan Athletic: QPR’s Liam Morrison among those reacting to feel-good Chris Sze message | OneFootball

Wigan Athletic stars and former Latics defender Liam Morrison have reacted to Chris Sze's return to action

Several Wigan Athletic stars, and former Latics defender Liam Morrison, now of Queens Park Rangers, have shared their delight at Chris Sze's long-awaited return to action.

Early last month, the 20-year-old decided to take a break from football, with Latics manager Shaun Maloney saying: "He just has a few personal issues that he needs to sort out.

"We'll wait as long as we need to with that one.

"We'll leave him to sort that one out in his own time.

"Hopefully he'll be back with us before too long."

And by mid-October, the Tics youth academy product returned to the training ground, as Maloney told Wigan Today: "It's been really good to see Chris Sze back around the place.

"He came back to training last week, and has been building up his training over the last seven days.

"He'll train away at the moment and, hopefully, I know we're looking a few weeks down the line, if we can get him through the next few weeks of training, we can try to get him a reserve game and look to have him involved in the final Bristol Street Motors (EFL Trophy) game."

Maloney's wish came true, as the youngster made his return to action on Tuesday night, when the Latics defeated Nottingham Forest Under-21s on penalties in their last EFL Trophy group game to reach the knockout stages.

Latics stars past and present react to Sze's return

After coming on as a second half substitute on Tuesday night, Sze wrote on Instagram on Wednesday: "So happy to be back."

Many Latics players also shared their delight at the starlet making his first appearance since an EFL Trophy clash with Morecambe back in early September, as Jonny Smith commented: "Made up for you son".

Also among those to comment were Tics defender Steven Sessegnon, who wrote: "We love to see this", while youngster Josh Stones, currently on loan at National League Oldham from Wigan put: "Really made my week that."

QPR defender Morrison, who spent last season on loan with the Latics from former club Bayern Munich commented: "Love it lad."

This social media activity shows that Sze is a popular figure among his teammates and former teammates, who have all sent him well wishes following his return to the field of play.

Sze could be an important player for Latics following the international break

As well as his teammates, Latics supporters will have been delighted to see Sze making his first appearance in over two months, while boss Maloney will hope the 20-year-old can help fire his side back into form.

The Greater Manchester side currently sit 19th in the League One table, and are struggling in the final third, having managed to score just 12 goals in 14 matches.

Sze can play as both a forward and an attacking midfielder, so Maloney will be looking to utilise the Latics academy product in an effort to add more attacking threat.

And while forward Stones is on loan at Oldham until early January, it is Sze who will be challenging forwards Joe Hugill and Dale Taylor, who are on loan from Manchester United and Nottingham Forest respectively.

The 20-year-old made 19 League One appearances last season, although the majority came from the substitutes' bench, and will now look to become a regular feature following his return to action on Tuesday.

The Latics' next fixture is their trip to Barnsley following the international break, and Sze will be looking to make an appearance as his side face an exciting clash with the South Yorkshire club who are pushing for promotion.