Midfield man delighted to secure Saddlers' future...
HAVING signed an 18-month deal at Banks's Stadium following a couple of highly successful loan spells, Sam Mantom is looking forward to starting a new chapter in his promising career."It took a few days for the paperwork to get sorted, but I am delighted that this deal has now been done," he said. "It means that I can focus on my football and helping Walsall to progress.
"There were one or two other clubs interested in me, but this is the ideal place for me. I know how the Gaffer and Richard O'Kelly work and what they expect, so I will hit the ground running, plus the style we play here suits my game. On top of that, I'm around young players who have a similar mindset to myself in that they enjoy their football and are prepared to work hard for each other.
"It ticks all the boxes for me and I am really excited about what the future holds in store here.
"As a team, if we keep doing the right things and stick together, there is no reason why we can't be up there challenging. The next few months are an important time for the club, but there is a confidence and belief amongst everyone here that we can really push-on.
"From a personal point of view, I just want to play matches and make an impact."
Mantom's first game as a fully-fledged Saddler comes on Sunday at Deepdale as we take on a Preston North End side that are one place and one point below us in the League One table.
"We know that Preston are a hard-working and strong side," added the 20 year-old. "They invested quite heavily in their team during the summer, but if we play our 'A' game, there is no reason for us to fear anyone.
"It will be a nice stage to play on and having not had a game since last Friday, we just want to get out there and back into the swing of things."