Express & Star

Neil Etheridge is back for his shirt after absence

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He's been on a fascinating international adventure that saw him take in the secretive North Korea as well as Bahrain.

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But Neil Etheridge has now returned home knowing he has a fight on his hands to start Walsall's game against Chesterfield tomorrow.

Last Saturday's 2-0 win in the top-of the-table clash against Burton Albion was achieved with promising glovesman Craig MacGillivray between the sticks.

And while both of Walsall's keepers remain close friends, Etheridge is doing everything he can to reclaim his place.

"To keep a clean sheet last week and move top of the league was fantastic, " the Philippines international said. "It's where we believe we should be after the start we've had.

"And I was extremely pleased for Craig. I was really pleased for him that he kept a clean sheet and for the defence as well because I think it shows how far the club has progressed since last year.

"The manager now has a decision to make, but I've continued playing my football while I've been away.

"I've got two days of training to prove myself and I know my ability. I want to be wearing that number one shirt against Chesterfield tomorrow."

While on international duty, Etheridge kept a clean sheet as the Phillipines drew 0-0 in North Korea. But he then tasted defeat as his side slipped to a 2-0 loss against Bahrain.

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And he admits being in the peculiar country led by Kim Jong-un was an experience.

"North Korea is set back in time but it's a very clean and interesting place," the 25-year-old said.

"The people are nice, they didn't seem unhappy and they just got on with their daily lives.

"You could tell it's a country that wasn't exposed to the outside world.

"But they didn't take our phones and laptops off us at the airport like we were expecting.

"It's just a very mysterious place, I'd love to go back one day but only with a guide that could tell you what is really going on."

Now fully focused on Chesterfield, Etheridge knows Dean Saunders' side will be desperate to topple the early pac setters.

But he insists that only makes Walsall more determined to win.

"Our mentality from the start of the season is to take things game by game," he said.

"We have done extremely well so far and we know the ability we have got, both in the starting XI and on the bench.

"This team has got resilience, it can grind out results and it plays good football.

"People want to hustle us off top spot but it's our job to keep winning."