Walsall winger Alex Nicholls has revealed his desperation to play against his home-town club Stourbridge in the FA Cup.

The Stourbridge-born star grabbed the winner in the 3-2 victory at Wycombe on Saturday – his first goal since the middle of August.

Saddlers go to the Glassboys in the first round of the FA Cup on Saturday and Nicholls hopes his strike gives him the chance to play.

He said: “It’s a big one for me being my home town. Starting is not down to me but I feel I’ve done as much as I can. Coming on and scoring the winner is good and I’m desperate to play.

“I’m just trying to keep plugging away and it’s all about staying positive. I’ve always had belief in myself that I can do well and score goals, it’s just doing it consistently. ”

A start at Amblecote on Saturday would be the 21-year-old’s first in more than a month and Nicholls has revealed his depression this season.

He said: “When I had a couple of games in the team and dropped out I was down. It’s disappointment in myself.

“It’s about staying positive. You could be going through the worst days of your career and it turns around fast.

“I’ve been down in the dumps before and I’m sure I’ll be again but it’s the way you recover.”