Isaiah Osbourne wants Walsall to have added bite

New recruit Isaiah Osbourne has vowed to bring added bite to Walsall's promotion chasing side.

The 27-year-old former Villa midfielder signed a one-year-contract at the Banks's Stadium last week after impressing on trial.

Osbourne was in sparkling form for Scunthorpe last season with Iron boss Mark Robins publicly stating that the player's all-action displays were one of the main reasons his side managed to avoid relegation.

And now the midfielder is hoping his ball-winning skills will keep the Saddlers at the top end of League One.

"I'm an aggressive player, a leader and I have come here to help Walsall really push on," he said.

"Personally I think the minimum aim has to be the play-offs because we have got a really good team.

"I actually had a trial here last season and I thought the team was good then – but you can see now it's a side that has really matured.

"All the players are now used to the league and we have got to be aiming for promotion."

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Osbourne, who played 19 times for Villa, has also enjoyed spells at Hibernian, Blackpool and Nottingham Forest. But while he will always look back on his time at Scunthorpe with fondness, he felt a move to the Saddlers was right.

"I really feel I achieved at Scunthorpe," he said. "I went to them when they were 23rd but we managed to avoid relegation.

"The manager there has said if it wasn't for me they would have got relegated.

"It's nice to hear things like that and to know you have made a difference.

"But when I spoke to the gaffer and Richard O'Kelly and they told me about their ambitions and the style of football, I wanted to come here.

"Being a Birmingham lad was a key factor in the move. I have family down here and my kids are here.

"So as soon as the manager said he wanted to sign me I wasted no time saying 'yes'."