Jimmy Walker comes back home

Walsall legend Jimmy Walker will leave his emotions at the door as he bids to save the Saddlers' season.

The goalkeeper makes a sentimental comeback to the Banks's Stadium tonight when the rock-bottom Saddlers host promotion-chasing Peterborough.

Walker, who made his second debut in Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Huddersfield, has been brought back to help the Saddlers after a shocking start to the campaign.

They are bottom of League One, five points from safety and have lost nine of their last 12 games in all competitions.

And, because of the Saddlers' plight, Walker insisted he is prepared to put the romance of his comeback aside for three points.

The 37-year-old made 475 appearances in 11 years at Walsall first time around but is only interested in a win tonight.

He said: "It will be fantastic being back and playing but it's just a game and we want to win.

"We know the position we're in at the minute and I'll be doing the same as the team, working as hard as possible to get the points.

"It's early but it's a results business and we need to get them quickly, it breeds confidence and you can spring on from there.

"Everything about the place is good. It's just a matter of turning it around and hopefully we can push on together."

A call from Walsall assistant boss Martin O'Connor last Wednesday put the wheels in motion, before a deal until the end of January was tied up in double quick time on Friday.

Walker, who had been training with Tottenham after his contract at Spurs expired in the summer, insisted a return felt right.

He said: "'Martin rang me Wednesday and I called him back on Thursday morning.

"I told him it would be nice to come back, I feel fresh, I haven't had much game time but that's something that will come.

"The timing was right, I wanted to come and help, I've seen the lads and I know we're going to do a decent job."

Walker suffered relegation from the Championship six years ago and also suffered the drop in 2000 but won promotion in 1995, 1999 and 2001.

After experiencing the pain of relegation, the veteran reckons Walsall have all the ingredients for a successful battle against the drop.

He said: "They have to dig in and give 100 per cent. Sometimes you have to roll your sleeves up, want the ball and produce more quality - if we can do that and feed the strikers we'll do well.

"If we have the confidence to do that then there's no reason why we can't keep clean sheets."

Walker is expected to be given a hero's welcome tonight, but the pressure has intensified on manager Chris Hutchings after nine defeats in 14 League One games.

Saturday's 1-0 defeat at the Galpharm Stadium was an improvement but the Saddlers still struggled, against a Huddersfield side who played for more than an hour with 10 men after Alan Lee's dismissal.

But Walker has urged the supporters to stick with the team and back them tonight.

He said: "The fans, ever since I've been here, have been massive. Ask any footballer, if the fans are on your side it's massive but we've got to get the results and do the business on the pitch because they pay their money and are entitled to their opinion.

"They've been great and they can see the lads digging in. We need them to stick with us, no one is working harder than the players and manager.

"We just need a bit of luck to get a springboard to go on from there."

Walker will keep Jonny Brain on the bench while the Saddlers are sweating on the fitness of on-loan Barnsley star Martin Devaney, whose deal expires tonight, after he missed Saturday with an ankle injury.

Darren Byfield could return to the squad after a knee injury, while Peterborough are without the suspended George Boyd and captain Grant McCann.

Posh lost 3-0 at home to Brighton on Saturday and boss Gary Johnson, who rejected claims he was going to quit yesterday, has moved to sign Bristol City left-back Lewin Nyatanga on a month's loan.

The manager could also recall defender Gabriel Zakuani and winger Lee Tomlin, available after injury and suspension respectively.