Saddlers defender Manny Monthe has heaped praise on Tyrese Shade after a string of impressive appearances under Head Coach Michael Flynn in an unfamiliar role of left-wing back.
Starting with a superb performance against top of the league Forest Green Rovers and backing it up with equally impressive performances against Hartlepool United and Northampton Town, Shade has impressed in his new position and that hasn’t gone unnoticed by Monthe.
Prior to the Hartlepool win, Shade himself highlighted the importance of playing alongside Monthe and the centre half is now keen to keep helping the on-loan Leicester City man.
“Tyrese is an athlete,” he said. “I think playing in that wing-back role, you have to have that athleticism, as we have seen so far with him in that role.
“His athleticism allows him to provide an attacking threat when we need it as he is able to get up and down the pitch very easily and so far he has been able to do it for large parts of the game when we have needed him to.
“He has been providing more support for the two strikers as well when he has been in those advanced positions.
“Tyrese is originally a winger as well so I think that gives him a bit of an advantage in the wing-back role because he can sometimes get inside the head of the opposing player and read what he is going to do, a bit like he did against Kane Wilson at Forest Green Rovers where I thought he was superb.
“He continues to grow in that role and if I can continue to help him out along the way, I will try my best to do so.”
Heading into Saturday’s game against Barrow, Monthe is expecting another tough game but he is hoping the team can continue to build on what has been a positive week for the team.
“Barrow is going to be another tough game for us,” Monthe continued.
“We’re entering the final stages of the season now and we want to finish it as strongly as possible.
“We have had a good week up until now, picking up four points against Hartlepool and Northampton and we know Saturday is going to be tough but we have to stay focused and hopefully we will pick up another positive result and put in another positive performance for the fans.”