Hughes' warning for best pal Noone
Walsall captain Mark Hughes has warned pal Craig Noone to watch his back ahead of Walsall's clash with Exeter.
The on-loan Plymouth man is best friends with the Saddlers skipper Hughes after the pair met at school in Kirby. They will stay in the same hotel ahead of the Banks's Stadium meeting and centre-back Hughes knows the danger his friend poses tomorrow.
Hughes said: "Craig is stopping with me on Friday in the hotel so I might put something in his food. He's gone on loan to get some games and is a good player. He's one to keep an eye on because he can do a lot of things with the ball.
"Looking at him you wouldn't think it but he takes on players and there aren't many who can do that. Whoever plays against him will have to keep close to him.
"He was a year younger than me at school and got his head down in non-league. He could have done what everyone else does, which is to not bother, but he always knew he had a chance and then got his move from Southport."
Noone is set to start for the Grecians and Hughes has been given the inside track by his friend on Exeter's philosophy.
He said: "They surprised Craig when he first went there. They've just come up, try to play the right way and have some good footballers.
"When you look at a team who have just come up they have a lot of confidence and haven't really got any fear.
"They've got nothing to lose. They all believe in each other because they've just got promoted."
Hughes is wary of the Grecians' threat, despite their 4-0 thumping at Huddersfield in their last outing, and expects the visitors to come out fighting.
He said: "It'll be one of the tougher games. We can't just turn up and expect three points, because it's Exeter. They want to get it down and play. They want to bounce back and the best thing you can do when you've had a defeat is respond with a win."
Walsall boss Chris Hutchings can call on Richard Taundry for the first time in more than a month, after the midfielder recovered from a pulled hamstring.
Rhys Weston is doubtful after picking up a hamstring problem in the week and Clayton McDonald is out with a groin strain.
Despite defeat at MK Dons last weekend, the Saddlers chief wants his side to build on the performance against 18th-placed Exeter.
He said: "We were very pleased with the performance."
