IT has been a season James McArthur will never forget – but one he still can't believe he ever played in.

He surfed the outrageous highs of winning an FA Cup final with unfashionable Wigan, against a multi-million pound Manchester City side, who it was thought only had to turn up to win the greatest cup competition of the lot.

Then he was plunged to the gut-wrenching lows of being relegated from the promised land of the English Premier League with the Latics just three days later, having barely been able to savour the Lancashire club's greatest moment.

Next up was an incredible night on national service in the dark blue of Scotland in Zagreb almost three weeks back when McArthur played a key role in helping Gordon Strachan's men beat the Fifa fourth-ranked Croatians to regain some much-needed national pride – and force arrogant Croat coach Igor Stimac to choke on his claim that the Scots wouldn't even make it out their own half.

No surprise then that the midfielder is a man in demand, with Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea all having taken turns at checking his progress last term, and it could be that the coming weeks will reveal another twist in the increasingly outstanding career of the impressively grounded Scotland international.

Yet while McArthur sips a coffee after a gruelling pre- season training stint at Scotstoun with old friend and former Hamilton team-mate Mark McLaughlin, he is keen to underline his excitement at working with new Wigan boss Owen Coyle and hopes that he can play a key part in helping Wigan bounce back to the Premier League at the first time of asking. No surprise, though, that McArthur is also keen to take stock and let reality sink in – at last.

He said: "They talk about the highs and lows of football, but the season I have just had is one that I am still trying to take in.

"To have won the FA Cup and then to have been relegated just days later was really tough to take.

"But to be playing for Scotland over in Zagreb and helping us get that win over Croatia was a major plus. It really helped ease the pain of relegation and was definitely the proudest moment of my Scotland career and right up there with anything I have achieved.

"But my biggest regret is that we just didn't have any time to let the FA Cup win sink in.

"I have spoken to other players who have played in FA Cup-winning sides and they have all said that it is the quickest game of your life and they were right.

"Really all I remember is the last six minutes or so. City had the boy Zabaleta sent off and I remember thinking to myself that if we could get a goal now they would have no time left to come back at us and really struggle to do so with only 10 men on the park.

"Then Ben Watson scored at the death for us and the feeling of relief was unbelievable.

"We had gone from huge underdogs to favourites within the last few minutes of the game that was the biggest in the players' lives and the club's history – it was just an unbelievable opportunity and we took it.

"When the referee blew his whistle I tried to take in the faces of people in the crowd, my team-mates and the manager Roberto Martinez, really forced myself to focus on their joy and breathe in the moment but it was just so surreal. Then it was over.

"But because we weren't able to celebrate the win because of the Premier League game with Arsenal coming up just three days later and really savour it.

"Then of course we were relegated after losing that game – it just feels like we were robbed of the joy of our greatest moment."

HE added: "Thankfully, although relegation was the lowest of lows, the Scotland game helped me shift my focus on pretty quick and I am just really proud to have played in that game and helped us regain some of our pride.

"Now I have had some time to reflect on the FA Cup win it has sunk in a bit, but it was a real shame we had to go down in the same campaign. By any standards it was a totally unforgettable season."

Despite the predatory interest of the Premier League's big boys, McArthur says he is happy to honour the three remaining years of his current deal and keen to experience life under new boss Coyle.

The 25-year-old said: "My priority is to try and help Wigan back up to the Premier League. Owen Coyle is coming in and that is exciting.

"I have always been an admirer of what he achieved with Burnley, in taking such a small club back up to the Premier League, and he was unlucky that a catalogue of injuries undermined his final season at Bolton.

"So while I will be taking stock of the season I have just had, I am already mentally starting to switch towards the coming weeks.

"The Wigan boys feel we have a point to prove and the only way to do that is to get back up to the Premier League."