It's double delight for Walsall's Sam Mantom

Tonight he could make his second in four days at home to Sheffield United.

His return against MK Dons on Saturday, following his injury lay-off, brought to an end months of worry and frustration for both club and player.

Even more pleasing was the fact Mantom made it through the full 90 minutes and the 23-year-old is confident he can do it again.

He said: "I've missed that long now that I want to play as long as I can. I think I will be ready and obviously I will get the recovery I need so I don't think it will be an issue.

"If I'm being honest I did feel it a bit (on Saturday). When I received that ball in the middle of the park at the end of the game my mind was saying 'yeah you can receive it' but my body was saying 'no, don't do it'.

"The last ten minutes, when you are out for that long and you've not played at that speed for a while, it does start to take its toll but I'm glad I came through it."

Such was the nature of Mantom's injury that, at times over the past few months, many at the club were left wondering whether they would ever see last year's player of the season on the pitch again.

What in pre-season was thought to be a mere knee niggle, which would keep him out for just a handful of weeks, gradually grew into something of a crisis.

It led to a brief comeback, limited to just four substitute appearances, and then more worry.

But exploratory surgery in January - a "last resort" as manager Dean Smith described it, seems to have finally brought an end to the saga.

"There's a big doubt when it gets past the five-month stage and there's still no light at the end of the tunnel," admits Mantom.

"When you're still in the same position that you were three months previous – you do start to wonder what's going to happen.

"I was quite fortunate that I've got another year here next season on my contract so that was nothing I had to worry about.

"But you do start to worry as it's been a very, very long time out, which is something I don't like to look back on now.

"The pain was obviously there. I wasn't beating around the bush. It was causing me a bit of grief.

"I tried many days training and even played a few reserve games and I was probably 70 per cent fit to be honest, just trying to will myself through it.

"But now it's the best it's ever felt so I don't think there are going to be any issues hopefully.

"The surgeon went in. He saw something which he needled and that caused a load of blood healing.

"Obviously I was in a brace for two weeks, didn't bend it for two weeks and then it gradually got better and better and touch wood it's sorted."