Defender Rhys Weston is happy to be Walsall’s Mr Fixit as he is enjoying his central role for the Saddlers.
Weston has recently partnered Anthony Gerrard in central defence, while Stephen Roberts is out with a knee injury.
He was set to be the senior man in the backline before the postponement of the Saddlers’ League One game at Carlisle on Saturday. Gerrard was set to miss the match after his partner went into labour on Friday and Roberts was still struggling for fitness.
But Weston, who is likely to have captained the side again as Michael Ricketts completed his two-game ban, prefers his new role.
He said: “It’s nice to get an opportunity to play there and it’s a position I would say is my preferred one. I have played a lot of football there in the youth team when I was coming through the ranks at Arsenal, so it is a position I am familiar with.
“I am happy to do a job for the team wherever it is required.”
The postponement of the game at Brunton Park was frustrating for the Saddlers, who are desperate to fire themselves back up the table, especially as Weston believes they have turned a corner, despite just four wins in 16 games.
The 28-year-old said: “It is difficult to pinpoint why things are starting to turn around. We know we are a good team but it is one thing knowing you are a good side. Proving it to people is a different matter altogether.
“We are turning around slowly but surely, it has not been an overnight thing. We have shown signs in recent weeks we are picking up.”
The Saddlers’ cause has not been helped with their recent spate of injuries which has sidelined Roberts, skipper Stephen Hughes, Paul Boertien and Mark Bradley.
Teenagers Will Grigg, Richard Davies and Sam Adkins have been included in recent squads.
With fellow youth products Richard Taundry, Netan Sansara, Alex Nicholls and Troy Deeney fairly established in the senior set-up, Weston feels Walsall has a good future.
He said: “The young players here are fantastic, they are keen to learn and keen to listen. It is a case of trying to encourage them and nurture them as best you can.
“They are good players in their own right, they are not babies, and have a lot of first team experience now.”
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2 Comments
We’ve shown signs that we’re improving in recent weeks.
Anyone tell me what those signs are?
We laboured to a draw at Cheltenham, scraped a victory at home to Stockport thanks to a superb Clayton Ince performance and then lost at Tranmere.
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Yep, we only scraped a win against Stockport who have a very good away record. Considering we have a poor home record, I think it was a well deserved win.
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