Walsall hot-shot Darren Byfield insists he is not worried about the Saddlers’ goalless pre-season.

They host Villa tonight (7.45pm) hunting their first goal of the summer after blanks against Barnsley, Wolves and Coventry.

But Chris Hutchings’ men spurned several chances in their 2-0 defeat to the Sky Blues on Saturday with Byfield, Watford target Troy Deeney and Alex Nicholls all missing chances to find the net.

But former Villa trainee Byfield, who made 10 appearances in claret and blue between 1997 and 2000, reckons the Saddlers will have found their shooting boots for the League One opener against Milton Keynes Dons on August 7.

He said: “Hopefully come MK Dons they will be going in. Give us a couple more weeks and they’ll be flying in.

“We’ll score, we’re creating chances and we want to win. Anyone who says pre-season is all about fitness is lying – you want to win.

“But the main thing is we get used to how the manager wants us to play.

“If we don’t play well and get three points against MK Dons, I don’t think he’ll be complaining.”

Byfield is hunting a start against his former club – who he left to join the Saddlers for a first spell in 2000 – after impressing against Coventry.

And the 33-year-old is revelling in his summer training after missing out on a fitness programme over the last four years.

He said: “It’s been a while since I’ve had a proper pre-season, I haven’t had one for four years and I’m feeling the benefits. I feel good, sharp and up for it.”

“At Millwall I fell out with the manager and then went to Bristol City who had finished. At Doncaster I had a hernia problem and last season I didn’t have a club.

“I was probably one of the only lads looking forward to pre-season and the boss knows exactly what he’s doing.

“Long gone are the days where you run around and do cross country.

“It’s all down to strengthening now and I’m feeling good.”

The veteran could start in an attacking 4-3-3 line-up, as Hutchings continues to experiment ahead of the League One campaign.

Byfield admits the players are relishing the new challenge, even if it adds to their workload.

He said: “It’s given us a couple of options, if he wants to start with it or bring it in during the season the lads know what they’re doing. On Saturday we showed we did.

“It’s hard work, because you have to track back and it’s more responsibly for the strikers.

“Usually up front your main job is to hold the ball up and score goals.”

Villa are likely to name a strong side, although James Milner will not play.

Tickets cost £12 adults and £6 concessions, or £15 for one adult and one child.