‘I love stats’ - New Walsall recruit reveals obsession for statistics

The left wing-back, who started out as a central defender, put pen to paper on a two-year deal at Bescot on Tuesday as the Saddlers stepped up their summer transfer activity.

Hancock has spent the last two seasons playing in the Scottish Championship for Airdrieonians, and after he arrived in the Black Country he has been speaking about what fans can expect from him in 2025-26. 

“In that wing-back position is where I would favour myself,” he said. “I can fill in at centre half when needed, that position is familiar to me. 

“Anywhere between those two, and I am a wing-back that likes to get forward. A lot of my joy comes further up the pitch, and I like to get to the byline and get the ball in the box. 

“I love stats. I want assists and forward passes. I want all that stuff. 

“The work that I have put into my personal game over the last two years has all been going forward. I do the defensive side naturally as I have done my whole career from the youth team. 

“It was going forward that needed the work, and I have put it in. 

“I am always chasing stats and setting goals for myself. I will sit down with the people I need to sit down with and set some goals for the season stats-wise. That is what I am chasing, it is how I work.”

Hancock has not always been a wing-back - he has developed in that position. 

He said: “I originally went (to Airdrieonians) as a centre-back, and within a few months and a few conversations with the manager and the coaching staff they saw me more as a left-back. 

“It was a bumpy road of course trying to play a game that I was not used to. 

“But as soon as it started clicking everything just kind of fell into place.”