SADDLERS' boss, Jimmy Mullen has spoken about today's announcement that Geoff Horsfield has testicular cancer, which will bring the curtain down on his distinguished ten-year professional career.

The 34 year-old had been training with The Saddlers during the past month in a bid to regain full fitness. "Geoff informed us on Monday that he had been diagnosed with testicular cancer," said Mullen. "He asked us to keep it in-house for a few days until he saw fit to make it public.

"Everyone at the club was shocked to hear the news and we wish him and his family well. He had worked extremely hard in recent weeks to get himself fit and has proved to be a popular figure at the training ground.

"He was a battler on the pitch and you can be sure that he will fight it, that's his personality."

The former Fulham, Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion man will undergo surgery next week. "All I am thinking now is beating this," he told the Daily Mirror. "I've always been a fighter throughout my football career and I'm going to fight this and win.

"I just hope what has happened to me will encourage other people to check for lumps. No-one can think it won't happen to them."

Everyone here at Walsall Football Club wishes him well.