Walsall defender Stephen Roberts has told of his desperation to play again after ending his injury hell this week.

The centre-half made his Saddlers return in the 2-1 Carling Cup defeat at Accrington on Tuesday, after being sidelined for eight months with knee and back injuries.

Roberts was crocked by Danny Cadamarteri at Huddersfield in December and suffered persistent back spasms as he tried to return.

Now the Welsh international could feature at home to Southend tomorrow and the 29-year-old is relieved to be playing again.

He said: “It was so frustrating. I was just desperate to get back playing again. I’d worked hard to overcome the knee problem then, just as I was starting to think about challenging for my place in the team, I did my back.

“The only thing for me to do was knuckle down, listen to what I was being told by the medical staff and be positive.

“I put the effort in and have been rewarded by being ahead of schedule.”