'All so different' - Mat Sadler highlights key change at Walsall from last season

Jid Okeke has also made an impression on loan from Stockport County and has enabled Sadler to rotate in the wing-back areas. 

Hancock is due to make his comeback next month, after almost five months out of action with a dislocated knee, after returning to training.

Sadler raves over Walsall's wing-backs 

And Sadler is delighted with the different qualities that each provide on the pitch.

"If you look at the profiles of all of them, they're all so different and it's important that they are because at different times, teams might double on that side or whatever it looks like," Sadler said.

"It's important attacking-wise and defensive-wise that we try and maybe change things at times. 

"Vinny is an unbelievable defender, his 1v1 defending is outstanding. The way he stops crosses coming into the box and some of his positional play. 

"He puts himself in danger with his fearless at times and he can contribute going forward. We probably want to see more of that from his point of view. 

"Then you look at Jid and Connor. What those guys can produce in the final third is outstanding and you can probably throw Albert and Courtney into the mix when they play there. Mason will bring that with his left-foot delivery too." 

Sadler makes Barrett admission 

Liam Gordon started all but two games for the Saddlers in League Two last term, while Barrett featured from the start in every game until mid-March. 

Nathan Asiimwe challenged him for a starting berth towards the back end of the campaign, but Sadler has argued that the wealth of options he has at his disposal will safeguard his players from fatigue in the second half of the season.

"If you look back 12 months ago, we probably very much so had the two options that we played the majority of the time," he continued.

"I know Nathan [Asiimwe] came in towards the very end, but a lot of minutes went to those who played all of the games [Barrett and Liam Gordon]. 

"Even with Connor recently, we wanted to give him a little bit of a spell out to make sure that we're not just slogging him for 12 months. 

"You saw that last year. Connor played in most of the Papa John's games, most of the League Cup games and most of the FA Cup games. We've tried to alleviate that this year."