Classy Florent Cuvelier is a marked man

Dean Smith today warned Florent Cuvelier he must deal with the spotlight at Walsall and get used to being the main man.

The boss insisted other League One bosses will be jealous the Saddlers captured the Stoke loanee who has made an impressive start to the season.

Belgian Cuvelier, on a six-month loan from the Potters, has been a driving force for the mid-table Saddlers.

They are on a three-game unbeaten run ahead of Saturday's visit of MK Dons and Smith admitted Cuvelier is no longer an unknown.

"He's a quality player but it's a little bit different for him now because he's walking into the training ground and people know who he is and players will be looking up to him," he said.

"That's the kind of stature he's got with the impact he made for us last season. Then he walked in as an unknown.

"I was really pleased he wanted to come back. I put in a call to Stoke at the end of last season and then they came back to me and said they were interested in doing something.

"He signed a new contract there so they think he progressed here and developed as a player. With the qualities he's got there will be a lot of jealous managers in this league."

And Smith reckons Walsall must be grateful the Belgian under-19 international resisted interest from Middlesbrough to return to the club after four goals in 16 games last term.

He said: "He'll never change. He'll roll on the pitch and do what he does best. He's full of quality others players don't possess and we should be thankful he's here at League One team because I think he's a level higher.

"It was a no brainer bringing him back, he adds that quality to the team we need."

Meanwhile, Febian Brandy and Richard Taundry made their return to action in the Birmingham Senior Cup last night.

The duo played in the 1-0 win at Tipton Town after being sidelined by hamstring injuries while triallist Sean McAllister also featured.