Walsall goalkeeper Clayton Ince believes the club are sowing the seeds for a promotion charge next season.

The 36-year-old played his first game for a month on Saturday in the impressive 1-0 win at MK Dons, providing a one-man barrier after Jabo Ibehre had fired a 61st-minute winner.

Ince had saved from Mark Wright, Peter Leven and Sam Baldock to preserve the Saddlers’ lead and end the hosts’ automatic promotion hopes.

Now, with a top-10 finish in their sights, the Trinidad & Tobago international believes the players can start thinking about success next year.

He said: “At this time of the season guys will collect their thoughts and think, next season, it is possible we could get promoted.

“We haven’t been doing too badly and it shows we can go to stadiums like that and can be a team who can be up there.

“It shows the character of the players and their ability. It shows we can push forward and not just stay as a mid-table team.”

A win at home to Oldham on the final day of the season will claim 10th spot and Ince reckons they are benefitting from a relaxed atmosphere.

He said: “At this stage of the season you need to relax and play football and that’s what the guys did on Saturday.

“When we play with no pressure the team plays well.”