Darren Byfield winning fitness fight
Captain Darren Byfield has handed Walsall a welcome boost by declaring he is winning his fitness battle - as the Saddlers sweat on the crocked Martin Devaney.
Captain Darren Byfield has handed Walsall a welcome boost by declaring he is winning his fitness battle - as the Saddlers sweat on the crocked Martin Devaney.
The striker is targeting a comeback against Bournemouth on Saturday, just as loan star Devaney could be ruled out for weeks with a hamstring injury.
The Barnsley winger was due to have a scan today after limping out of the weekend's 1-1 FA Cup draw at Fleetwood.
But Byfield is recovering well from a knee injury, which has kept him sidelined for seven weeks, and is in line to return against the Cherries.
He said: "I'm definitely targeting Saturday. With a grade one medial ligament injury I should be back by now. But I've got to keep going, we've gone down the route of strengthening and I hope that's the way.
"Being honest I have felt a difference and hopefully I can be available for the weekend.
"I can hammer the leg this week and hopefully it works."
But the 34-year-old admitted he has struggled to keep his emotions in check as he watched the Saddlers slump to the bottom of League One.
He said: "It is disheartening and disappointing, there are a lot of emotions because you want to play.
"I don't let it fester, I'd rather be laughing and joking and keeping the lads going. If I'm walking around the training ground with my head down and sulking it doesn't look good.
"I'm more frustrated than sad, I want the lads to be doing well and I know if I was playing we had have a better chance.
"No one is happy when they are injured and if you are you shouldn't be playing.
"I don't let it affect me around the club."
Byfield has scored just once in six games in an injury plagued campaign during which the Saddlers have only won three times.
But the striker insisted the tide will turn, although admitted it must change quickly.
He said: "We're not playing badly, we're playing alright. We've got to keep our concentration. We'll learn from it and turn it around but the longer you are down there the harder it is to get out.
"That's a fact."
