Marshall eager to face mentor Hamann

The apprentice is ready to become the master as Paul Marshall prepares for his Walsall debut tomorrow.

The summer arrival from Manchester City is set to go head-to-head with the man who took him under his wing at Eastlands.

Former Germany star Dietmar Hamann will make his MK Dons bow in the League One clash at the Banks's Stadium, with Marshall desperate to face him.

The pair were at City together until Hamann was released in 2009 as part of the shake-up following Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan's takeover.

Marshall quit super-rich City for Aberdeen in January after failing to dislodge the multi-million pound stars before joining the Saddlers on a free this summer.

Hamann, the last player to score at the old Wembley Stadium, joined the Dons as player-coach in May and is likely to be the visitors' midfield lynchpin tomorrow.

And Marshall is relishing the chance to lock horns with his old team-mate - who he reckons will take League One by storm. "He was my mentor at one stage and I really looked up to him," said Marshall, who could be handed his debut with Aaron Lescott, Oliver Lancashire, Ryan McGivern and one of goalkeepers Jonny Brain or David Bevan.

"When he was in the team and I was coming up through the ranks I played a couple of games with him in the reserves.

"He taught me a lot, when I played with him I always knew where I was supposed to be on the pitch. He'd talk you through things. He was always in the right place, he knew where to be - he's just quality.

"He's easy to play with. He hasn't got the legs any more but he's going to try to stay in the centre circle and control things from there. He's still class.

"It will be quality playing against him. He's a bit of a dirty player, you run past him and he can't resists a little niggle but that's his experience."

Marshall is battling Matt Richards and Richard Taundry to face his pal, with boss Chris Hutchings keeping his men guessing.

The Saddlers experimented with 4-3-3 along with their tried and trusted 4-4-2 over the summer and Marshall admits the squad are still in the dark over the manager's final plans.

He said: "It will be a good game for us. I was speaking to Didi a couple of days ago and he says their manager (Karl Robinson) has them playing and passing about like Real Madrid!

"But tomorrow is a big one. I don't think the manager is sure what formation he is going to go with.

"It keeps you on your toes. This week we've been building up to the game because we've been doing double sessions all summer and it's been very hard.

"We've had a lot of tough games. The performances have been good and at Port Vale everyone was tired but we still created chances. We've got a good squad here."

A run of four defeats and a draw in pre-season did not do the Saddlers' performances justice and Marshall has underlined his determination to prove his worth.

The midfielder has revealed the challenge Hutchings has issued him with as the Saddlers bid to improve on last season's 10th-place finish.

"He told me to do well and not be satisfied at just doing enough," said the 20-year-old.

"He said 'do your best, get up to 10 goals and do well for yourself'. He wants me to get into the box and score. I feel fit so hopefully I can get some goals.

"When I spoke to him ahead of signing, he said he wanted to play football. I had other options but, in terms of club, manager, facilities and playing games rather than being on the bench, this was the best one."

Matt Richards, Manny Smith and Clayton McDonald are all fit after ankle, hamstring and knee injuries respectively - leaving Hutchings with a full-strength side.

Watford target Troy Deeney will be considered despite handing in a transfer request this week as the Saddlers aim to continue their remarkable opening day form.

They have lost just once on the first day of the season in the last 12 years — a 2-0 defeat to Ipswich in 2002 — winning eight and drawing three.

The Dons, who are likely to be without back injury victim Sean O'Hanlon, appointed Robinson as manager after Paul Ince's departure over the summer.

They look a different outfit to the one beaten 2-1 at the Banks's on the final day of last season and Robinson insists they have changed their ways.

"We work teams out and, when we pick the right time, we go and hurt them," he said.

"I want the players to paint a mental picture of that because that is something they have to do."