Walsall goalkeeper Clayton Ince was today challenged to smash the club’s clean sheets record out of sight as he prepares to try to match the current mark on Sunday.

Saddlers goalkeeping coach Eric McManus, who has already helped Ince to keep 18 clean sheets in the League this season, believes the giant Trinidadian can extend the tally well beyond 20 by the end of the season.

And that would leave current record holders Jim Lewis and James Walker, who both kept 19 clean sheets in a single Saddlers season, trailing in his wake.

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Walsall goalkeeper Clayton Ince was today challenged to smash the club’s clean sheets record out of sight as he prepares to try to match the current mark on Sunday.

Saddlers goalkeeping coach Eric McManus, who has already helped Ince to keep 18 clean sheets in the League this season, believes the giant Trinidadian can extend the tally well beyond 20 by the end of the season.

And that would leave current record holders Jim Lewis and James Walker, who both kept 19 clean sheets in a single Saddlers season, trailing in his wake.

“Clayton set himself a standard and a target and he has reached it,” said McManus.

“But, with eight more matches to go, we would expect at least two or three more clean sheets from the team, if not more, so he should break the record by some distance.

“I’m sure Clayton would be the first to recognise that clean sheets are a team effort and not just down to the goalkeepers.

“I’m sure Clayton would be the first to acknowledge how well the lads in front of him have played this season.

“Clayton has made some tremendous saves at key times throughout the season, but everyone has to share the plaudits.”

McManus, who has effectively become assistant manager to boss Richard Money since the departure of Mark Kinsella to Charlton, praised the role of the club’s defenders.

McManus, the 56-year-old former Notts County and Bradford keeper, says they  have rediscovered their form after troubles in February.

“It’s a long, hard season and everyone is going to have a sticky patch somewhere along the way, but hopefully we’ve played our way through ours and we’re back to how we were defending earlier in the season.”