Master and apprentice meet at U's

United boss Aidy Boothroyd was Saddlers manager Chris Hutchings' boot boy when the pair were at Huddersfield and went on to become Premier League managers.

Hutchings had spells at Bradford and Wigan, before former Albion academy director Boothroyd guided Watford to the top flight in 2006. He left Vicarage Road last year, before taking the reins at Colchester in September after Paul Lambert's defection to Norwich.

But the Walsall boss has warned his old pal there will be no favours at the Weston Homes Community Stadium tomorrow.

He said: "Aidy knows and I know for 90 minutes there won't be too much love lost. He was at Huddersfield with me. We go back a long way and have been in contact throughout our careers. We always come across each other at games and have a good bit of banter.

"Aidy has done really well in his managerial career so far. He has managed in the Championship and Premier League and has now taken on a club lower down, but where he can see the potential to get back up."

Boothroyd to is wary of the threat Hutchings poses.

The 38-year-old said: "Chris is a good guy. He's been very unfortunate in terms of the times that he's taken over at clubs. He followed Paul Jewell at both Bradford and at Wigan and I'm glad that he's got back in quickly.

"We have to be on our game tomorrow, because he's very switched on and a bright guy."

The Colchester boss reckons Hutchings never received enough credit for Wigan's promotion and achievements in the Premier League.

He said: "Chris was instrumental at Wigan and I think Paul Jewell would be the first one to say that. Every manager generally has a good No 2. Paul and Chris were top performers together and now he's his own man and has an opportunity to have some highs and some lows."

But there will be a clash of styles when the pair meet. Despite being old friends they have differing footballing philosophies, with Hutchings' passing football likely to come under threat from Boothroyd's more direct approach.

Kayode Odejayi has five goals in his last five games, with strike partner Clive Platt bagging three this season and the Walsall boss must decide on how to combat their threat.

The visitors have a defensive headache with on-loan Clayton McDonald fit again after a groin injury, meaning he could throw the Manchester City man back into the fray.

Hutchings said: "They've got Platt and Odejayi who are big lads up front and a handful. You can arguably play three at the back, so there are a lot of scenarios. We'll have a look and see what we think and pick someone who can do the job."

The Saddlers chief is sweating on Steve Jones' fitness after the winger, who has three goals in as many games, was hit by a virus and didn't train yesterday.