Sky Bet Championship: Wigan manager Malky Mackay praises Jermaine Pennant

New Wigan signing Jermaine Pennant is ready to prove he still has plenty to offer in his career, according to Latics boss Malky Mackay.

Former Liverpool, Stoke and Birmingham winger Pennant, 32, signed a deal with struggling Sky Bet Championship side Wigan until the end of the season on Saturday after spending time playing in the Indian Super League.

Pennant, who has had off-field problems during his career, has not played on these shores since New Year's Day 2014 but Mackay had no qualms about bringing him on board at the DW Stadium.

"Jermaine is matured, he's in a slightly different place to where he was a few years ago and he desperately wanted to come in and prove people wrong," said Mackay.

"We looked at him for the week, watched him train, did fitness sessions with him to make sure his athletic ability was up to speed and he's trained with the (under) 18s, (under) 21s and the first team because there were various sessions on various days and he wanted to train with anybody that was there.

"There's a keenness to him. He was in the dressing room on Friday night with the boys and I've had two or three conversations with him about his life, where he is and he's got undoubted quality because I've seen that in the training sessions.

"I'm delighted to get him in because he's been nothing but an absolutely pleasure to have around the place. He's got Premier League talent, he's played for big clubs.

"It's a short-term thing but let's see if we can both do each other a favour."

Mackay also revealed that there was no financial motivation for Pennant to sign on the dotted line.

"The finances were done in about two minutes, he had no interest in it being anything about money," the Scot added.

"He took what was offered and he wanted the chance to play football and show people that he's still got ability. There was a point where he went to India for the four months and now he just wants to get back into this country and try to perform.

"There's a reason Liverpool signed him, he's played for Birmingham, Stoke. There's an infectious nature to him, he has a terrific smile. I didn't know anything about him but I've been impressed with the boy I've met.

"Everyone deserves a second chance and if that's what that is and it gives him a chance to get back into English football, he's proved to me in a week that he's absolutely worth taking the chance on."

Pennant will be in the Wigan squad to face Cardiff on Tuesday night and will bring an injection of experience to a squad decimated by injury and departures since the turn of the year.

The likes of Shaun Maloney, Ben Watson and Roger Espinoza have all left while injuries to William Kvist and Leon Clarke have left Mackay without many senior heads to call upon.

"It's another experienced individual who has been in a lot of high-pressure situations," he said of Pennant.

"He's a big enough character around the place that is going to affect some of the youngsters.

"A young 21-year-old sees somebody that he used to watch play for Liverpool sitting next to him - I used to do it myself - you take things from these people as much as you can.

"He's shown that already this week. Experienced players who come in with the right character do make a difference to a football club."