Darren Byfield will fight for his place

Fit-again Walsall skipper Darren Byfield today admitted he faces a fight to regain his first-team place.

The striker and Express & Star columnist has missed the Saddlers' last three games with an Achilles problem but is back in contention for tomorrow's League One visit of Colchester to the Banks's Stadium.

However, with Jon Macken and Reuben Reid as well as young duo Jamie Paterson and George Bowerman also competing for the striking berths to face the Us and Alex Nicholls soon to return from suspension, the 33-year-old admits the competition is stiff.

"It's entirely up to the gaffer what he wants to do," he said. "There's a lot of competition here now and that's how it should be. It's good.

"If I'm not playing then that means other players must be doing well, which in turn means Walsall are on the up.

"Of course, I want to be a part of it but I know I may have to bide my time.

"Opportunities will always come along sooner or later but if I have to wait, two, three, four weeks I know that when I do come in I'll be ready.

"And it's then up to me to stay in."

Byfield is confident he is now free from his injury problems and was involved in training with the rest of the squad yesterday.

He added: "I'm fit, I did some work with the physio on Monday, Tuesday I came in and had a proper session with the ones not in the squad.

'Then they said if I don't get a reaction on Wednesday I could train yesterday, which I did."

However, Byfield has not let his spell on the sidelines impact on his role as club captain.

He added: "I hate being injured. What footballer doesn't? But you still try to have a happy feeling around the place and stay bubbly.

"I'm the eldest here now and I'm club captain so it is an extra responsibility, but I enjoy it."