Friendships put aside for Byfield
Walsall striker Darren Byfield will put friendships aside for 90 minutes when the player faces-off against his best pal.
The 33-year-old will go head-to-head with defender Reuben Hazell tonight, who he has known since they were trainees at Villa together, when his former club Oldham are the visitors.
Byfield was released by the Latics in August to return to the Banks's Stadium but doesn't bear any grudges with the club – as long as he gets one over on Hazell.
The Saddlers forward said: "I've got a massive point to prove to Reuben. He's my best mate, my best man at my wedding, godfather to my daughter and plays at centre-half.
"It is massive that he doesn't get the better of me. No pressure. It's not to do with Oldham, it's between me and Reuben!"
Byfield, who suffered an ankle injury in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Brentford, admits he has been besieged by ticket requests.
He said: "I need about 30 tickets. We're both from Birmingham and he's family really. My ankle better be OK, but even if I have to hobble out there I'll be playing!
"We're round each others' all the time so we don't even have to text. He lives in Edgbaston, he's a local boy."
The Saddlers, who are likely to be unchanged, now play three games in a week starting with the Latics clash. They return to Brentford in the FA Cup second round on Saturday before a trip to Yeovil next Tuesday.
Byfield is relishing the chance to test himself in the harsh realities of League One, which could see the Saddlers stake a real claim for the play-offs.
He said: "The only worry is my ankle but hopefully it'll be fine. I love playing Saturday and Tuesday. People say 'you're 33 you must be feeling it?' but I don't. I love playing games and if we could do that every week I wouldn't be bothered."
Saturday's point kept Chris Hutchings' men 10th in the table, five points off the top six, and the five-goal former Villa striker reckons they have the character and desire to maintain a challenge for the top six.
He said: "If you're winning the odd away game and drawing now and then and then winning home games you move up the table. We need to continue that tonight.
"On Saturday, at half time and 1-0 down, we said we had to show character. I thought they scored against the run of play, but once again we showed character and ground out a result."
