Walsall Head Coach Mat Sadler has called on his team to bring energy and intensity to tomorrow’s clash against Newport County at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.
The Saddlers head into the contest on the back of two draws in their last two outings and with the bit between their teeth after the frustration of last Tuesday’s match against Morecambe being postponed.
The players are looking forward to getting back in action but Sadler is expecting to come up against a well drilled Newport team, led by Graham Coughlan and his staff, who he has praised for the good progress they have made since the previous meeting between the two teams in October.
“A good manager, good assistant manager and a good coaching team so all of those things come into play,” Sadler said.
“They work extremely hard for each other and all the success that they’ve had is out of the hard work they have put in.
“They’re really good people and I’m pleased to see them doing well because I know they had some tough times earlier in the season with the injuries that they had but for us, we’re desperate for the next game after the disappointment on Tuesday.
“We were gutted that game didn’t go ahead, we know when it has been rearranged for but we now throw all our energy into Saturday and we look forward to that being the next game.
“We’re going to have to be right on top of our game, of course we are. We are going to have to match that energy, match that intensity and we look forward to the challenge of it.”
Sadler will welcome back Aramide Oteh who has been out injured since October and the Head Coach is pleased to be in a position to be able to call on his services after a patient process.
“Rem comes back into it this week, we wanted to do everything right to make sure we ticked every single box with Rem,” he explained.
“He was champing at the bit on Tuesday night, he was desperate on the Saturday away at Gillingham but we had to rein him in to make sure we ticked every box because we don’t want any reoccurrences in these next 18 games for him.
“I’ve held him back and we want to unleash him and he’s looking forward to that.
“It’s been a long time without Rem, we’ve missed him and missed a player of his ability. He’s desperate to be out there contributing now.
Elsewhere, new signing Jamie Jellis is still working his way back to fitness while Oisin McEntee, Danny Johnson and Harry Williams remain sidelined with longer term injuries with the latter undergoing surgery earlier this week.
“Harry’s surgery has gone well,” Sadler confirmed.
“He goes into that group of guys with Oisin and Danny fighting to get back and we wish him well in that initial part of his recovery before he then properly comes back into the building.
“Jamie is the fourth one in that collection of lads. He’s fighting his way back; he won’t be too long so we look forward to welcoming him back into the group.”
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