Mat Sadler expects double Walsall injury boost ahead of Notts County clash
Mat Sadler says he expects Walsall duo Jid Okeke and Aaron Pressley to be available for their top-of-the-table clash at Notts County on Saturday.
The pair trained with the first team last week but were not involved in the Saddlers' 1-1 draw against local rivals Shrewsbury Town at Bescot on Saturday.
That saw second-place Notts County cut the gap at the top to just two points ahead of their meeting at Meadow Lane this weekend.
And Sadler has revealed that Walsall could be set for a double injury boost when they travel to Nottingham.
Pressley and Okeke will be fit for Notts County
"Both trained on Friday. I made a decision not to with Aaron," boss Sadler confirmed.
"He possibly could've gave us some [minutes] but it was too much of a risk in my head to do that.
"Aaron will be fit for the next game, Jid will be fit for the next game.
"Then they'll come into our squad again and that'll only make us stronger."
Pressley has not featured for Walsall since suffering a hamstring injury in training in the build-up to their 2-0 win at Harrogate Town on November 22.
The Scottish frontman, who has scored four goals in 17 games since arriving in the summer from Stevenage, has missed the last six games in total.
Rotation will be key
Okeke picked up a back issue during Walsall's 2-0 success at Gateshead in the FA Cup, which has forced him to sit out the next two games.
Sadler is pleased to be on the cusp of welcoming them both back, with rotation expected to be key during the winter months.
"We have [selected the team with winter fixtures in mind]," he added.
"People like Connor have played three games in a week and he has worked so hard.
"So he has got to be looked after this week. It was a little bit of needs must with Jid being out but we want to rotate those wing-backs at times.
"It's very important we keep this squad as thick as we can to give ourselves as many options as possible to keep attacking the second half of the season when it comes."
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