Gray to be unleashed on Yeovil

Walsall wide man Julian Gray will be given free rein to unleash hell on Yeovil after boss Chris Hutchings backed his wing wonder to shine.

The 30-year-old has made a big impact since joining the club 12 days ago, starring in the 2-1 win at Leeds and picking up the sponsors' Man of the Match award in Saturday's 2-1 victory over Brentford.

Yeovil are the next on Gray's hit list and Hutchings wants his new star to build on his bright start.

He said: "We want him to be positive, we want him to get the ball, take people on, create, score and cause havoc for the defenders. I've said to him 'I want you to come and play, get in the side, enjoy yourself and take it from there.'

"We know he's got quality, and a big thank you again to the chairman for allowing us to bring him in and to Julian himself, he wants to come and play."

Gray took the step down to League One for the first time in his career to reinvent himself after three months without a club following his release from Barnsley last November.

The player was brought in to start providing the Saddlers' shot-shy strikers with ammunition, but Hutchings has laid down the gauntlet to the former Crystal Palace ace to find the net himself.

He said: "He needs to score goals, we need goal from everywhere. It's not just about him contributing and scoring, we need everyone to contribute.

"Clayton McDonald scored at Leeds and we need the centre-backs to score. Manny Smith did at Millwall and that's what we need, people scoring from all positions.

"But the same time Julian knows he's got to contribute on the defensive side of things."

Gray is settled in the West Midlands following spells with Birmingham and Coventry and Hutchings admits the former Arsenal trainee has settled in quickly.

The Walsall boss said: "It hasn't taken him long, Julian is a naturally fit boy so was working hard in the gym doing his runs and strengthening, but it's always about when you get into that match phase.

"Being a fit boy it's the match sharpness we're looking for. You only get that through playing and sometimes you take a drop back before you go forwards."

Striker Troy Deeney is relishing the chance to work with a fully fit Gray – especially as Steve Jones is nearing a first team return following his appearance in the squad on Saturday.

Deeney said: "With Jonah and Jules playing we have a bit of balance, we have a bit of fear coming from both sides so the other teams are not just concentrating on the right. To be fair to Matt Richards, he's not a left winger so now we have two wide men with an attacking mentality and with me and Darren Byfield up front it's quite potent.

"It can only benefit the team and if we're attacking then Daz and I will get the chances, I always feel I'll score if I get chances."

Deeney, a Birmingham fan, watched Gray from the St Andrew's terraces and believes his new team-mate has shown all the quality which made him a Premier League regular.

The striker said: "He didn't really have a fair crack at Blues but you can see he's got class, always wants the ball and shows a bit of calm towards the team and we need that.

"He's quality, he's got class and has been there and done that. When we played poorly at Oldham and came in after the game he rallied the lads with some good words that stood him in good stead, because people will appreciate him."

Walsall are without Dwayne Mattis (gashed leg), Rhys Weston (hamstring), Sam Parkin (groin) and Peter Till (hamstring) while they are hopeful Darryl Westlake will shrug off his calf injury.