Mat Sadler outlines pre-season plans for Walsall defender Priestley Farquharson

Farquharson featured just three times for the Saddlers last term before a thigh injury curtailed his season in August last year. 

The 28-year-old, who joined from Newport County in 2023, has been restricted to just 24 appearances across his two seasons at Bescot due to a spate of injuries. 

He has not featured in either of the Saddlers' first two pre-season games, including their 3-0 win in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Hereford. 

Sadler intends on easing Farquharson into pre-season and is hopeful that Walsall can get the best out of him next season.

'When Priestley is fit, he's one of the best in the division'

"It was very much a case of believing in him. I believe in the defender than he can be, I think he is incredible," Sadler said.

"He is the type that if we can get the best out of him then we've got one of the best as far as I'm concerned.

"We have to look after him. We've taken the decision to grow him into the pre-season rather than expecting him to hit the ground running straightaway. 

"Because we want him to be fit for as many games as possible this season. When Priestley is fit, I think he's one of the best in the division. 

"I think he's incredibly athletic, strong and a proper leader. That's why I wanted to keep him and I'm glad that he decided to stay." 

As for the decision to hand him a new one-year deal, Sadler explained that the positive signs Farquharson showed towards the end of the season prompted him to extend his stay.

"He has definitely suffered with injury and nobody is more hurt than himself with that, but we saw signs in the last couple of months of the season that he was starting to get ready and raring." he continued. 

"That's why we wanted to carry it on and we'll see how we get into pre-season."

Sadler opens up on Jack Earing exit

Meanwhile, Jack Earing, who has suffered a similarly challenging time with injury at Walsall, was released at the end of last season.

Sadler felt a change is exactly what Earing needed and that the midfielder was at a "different end of the scale" from Farquharson in terms of his recovery from a long-term ankle injury.

"Jack wasn't an easy decision. Sometimes with someone like Jack, he just maybe needs a change," he added. 

"It probably won't go unnoticed that he has gone to my friend's club because I spoke very highly of Jack and believe in him. 

"Sometimes a player just needs a change of scenery. He has had some awful injuries in his time here and you could really see that it had taken its toll on him in his last couple of months. 

"Whereas what I was seeing with Priestley was that he was the other side with things. With Jack, he was still struggling with those knocks and niggles. 

"So it was two very different scales with Priestley and Jack."