No goal burden on Walsall's Bradshaw

Walsall boss Sean O'Driscoll has insisted that there is no burden on star striker Tom Bradshaw.

Bradshaw, who is the Saddlers' top scorer with 14 goals in all competitions, has carried much of Walsall's goal threat this season.

But after going three games without netting, O'Driscoll confirmed that other aspects of Bradshaw's are impressing him.

The Saddlers boss said: "I don't think Tom has any sort of burden. The last two games he's been terrific even after not scoring.

"Whether he gets judged on his goals or not I don't know, but he's impressed me during the last two games because on his own he's managed to disrupt a whole back four.

"That's against a Championship team in Reading and a League One team away from home at Doncaster.

"He's in a good place at the minute despite the rumours and conjecture about his future. He's shown such a fantastic maturity."

The 23-year-old was the subject of numerous January rumours linking him with a move away from the Banks's Stadium.

O'Driscoll noted that many people within football will undoubtedly have been impressed with the calm and mature manner in which the forward has gone about his business.

The Walsall chief added: "People in the game will notice that, when you talk about players, invariably very quickly you talk about their characters.

"Because there's not too much of a difference technically between professional players at this level, so it's all about their characters and I think he's shown fantastic character."

Bradshaw, who landed his first call-up to the Welsh squad last year without earning a cap, received plaudits for a busy display at Doncaster despite not finding the net in Walsall's 2-1 win.

O'Driscoll added: "I don't think there's any burden on Tom other than to keep performing as he has been."