Hutchings wants to rest young stars

Walsall manager Chris Hutchings wants to take his young guns out of the firing line – but can't to do it because he hasn't got the manpower.

The Saddlers travel to Southampton tomorrow with the boss eager to rest stars like Darryl Westlake and Clayton McDonald after seven gruelling games in February.

But with Dwayne Mattis, Peter Till, Sam Parkin and Rhys Weston all out of the South Coast clash tomorrow, Hutchings admits it is difficult to find a way to give his men some time off.

He said: "One or two could do with a bit of a rest but we haven't got a big enough squad to rotate, with the injuries they've battled on and done exceptionally well over the last few weeks.

"The boys out are all very experienced players, so it's a massive loss to the squad and they've been out for quite a few weeks. It's been a problem, but the lads have come in and done well.

"Before when we rested 'Westy' it was time to rest him, there's a time young lads need to be dragged out but when they go in they need to perform well and they have so far.

"Whether you can change depends. It's a matter of picking the games and who you think is good enough to win them for you."

The Saddlers are looking to hit back following their leggy one-goal defeat at home to Yeovil on Tuesday and Hutchings is expecting a response.

But with the side ninth in League One, the boss reckons they have the ability to pull off another shock win.

He said: "We've only lost two in eight and if you look at that we're not doing too badly. It was a bad night the other night but we've got to bounce back, we had the same at Oldham and had a fantastic performance at Leeds.

"People forget we've performed very well against Norwich and Leeds, so there's no reason we can't do it against Southampton. These things happen in football, it's how you bounce back and perform.

"We have to get a performance again, individually and collectively. We haven't conceded too many goals in other games. We need to keep it tight at the back and try and cause an upset again."