Walsall captain expects fight for place

Walsall captain Andy Butler has cranked up the heat in the fight for places and warned – 'it's not a name game.'

The reigning double Player of the Year admitted his spot is under threat – despite his status as skipper – ahead of Saturday's first game of the season with Leyton Orient.

The race is on to make boss Dean Smith's starting line-up at the Banks's Stadium and Butler insisted even he could miss out.

He said: "Captains can still get dropped. If you're not doing it on the pitch the gaffer can take anyone off. It's not a name game – it's about performances.

"I wouldn't ever take my place for granted, I'm not the kind of player who would take the mickey like that. I work as hard as I can in training like everyone else. If the gaffer doesn't pick me I have to work harder.

"The others want to stake their own place in the team and better competition will make us better players."