Sam Mantom tipped for Walsall star role

Skipper Adam Chambers has backed fellow midfielder Sam Mantom to recapture the form that saw him crowned the club's player of the year.

The 23-year-old midfield schemer only managed 12 league appearances for the Saddlers last season after being ruled out for most of the campaign with a knee injury.

Now back to full fitness, Mantom is expected to add both goals and creativity to a Walsall side that scored only 50 times in League One last season –the fifth lowest in the division.

And Chambers is tipping Mantom to soon rediscover the form that saw him named the club's best player after the 2013/14 campaign.

"It will be massive for both Sam and the team to have him fit for the whole campaign," the captain said.

"He has to first win his place in the side but it would be nice for me to play alongside Sam again.

"He had that injury last season but the year before he showed everyone how good he is.

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"He has come back for pre-season in great shape and he's so important to the team because he does bring goals and his array of passing is also very good.

"But for a young lad he also know the game really well. He can be a leader out there, he brings a lot to the team. We certainly missed him last season."

The goals of 2014/15 loanee Jordy Hiwula may also be missing after reports emerged yesterday linking him with a move to Championship outfit Huddersfield Town.

Meanwhile, Saddlers fitness coach Jon Whitney believes the hamstring woes of star striker Tom Bradshaw are now behind him thanks to the work he's been doing over the close season.

Bradshaw scored 20 goals in 37 games last season despite being blighted by hamstring problems throughout the year.

"Tom has had his programme to strengthen those hamstrings and he's worked really hard," Whitney said.