Dean Holden hungry for more time at Walsall

"There is no feeling like that," he says. "Twenty minutes to go and going out there it is a phenomenal feeling.

"Of course there is that little bit of pressure, knowing the lads had done well out there for 70 minutes and I have got to be on my metal from the start, that I've got to go out there and do well for the team."

Holden is talking about his emotions as a 16-month break from senior action was ended when he came off the bench in Saturday's 0-0 draw against Bradford.

"It was probably my type of game," he went on. "There were balls coming into the box and you know you are up against a big strong centre-forward as opposed to a five-foot-four, nippy striker.

"I think it is important to impose yourself in that kind of situation and if you are able to do that in the first couple of challenges, it becomes a mental thing more than anything else.

"I played with (Bradford striker) Aaron McLean at Peterborough and used to have some tough training sessions but I just tried to get stuck in early on."

Despite taking up a player-coach role for the second season running, the 34-year-old had always maintained he did not view his playing days as being over.

And with James Chambers likely to be out with a hamstring strain, the Salford-born and bred defender is ready to be handed a starting position tonight against Yeovil.

Holden takes no pleasure from the fact his chance has come through injury to another player but having been a professional for more than 15 years, knows it is simply part of the game.

"Of course you feel for James, he has been outstanding," he said. "I told him that in pre-season and he has become a real leader but that is football and that is how I got my chance at 19 at Bolton.

"It is disappointing for him but as I said to the younger lads before Saturday's game it is important you watch the game and see who you are up against.

"At quarter past one, when the team is announced and I'm not in it, I am disappointed.

"But then you turn your attentions to the set pieces and seeing who you were up against, so that you are a step ahead when you go on there. That is what you should do.

"That is what I have always prided myself on – being a reliable member of the team whenever I am called upon.

"You can only keep doing your best in training every day and being a good influence on the squad and hoping you will get your chance.

"With a hamstring strain you would expect Jay to be out but you never know it could be a quick turnaround.

"Hamstrings are a tricky one, there is probably not even a risk involved if you pull it you can barely even run."

Though there were clear frustrations in only taking a draw from Saturday's game, two points from two tricky opening games is still being viewed as a satisfactory start within the walls of the Banks's Stadium.

But it now needs to be backed up with victory at home tonight.

Yeovil, relegated from the Championship last season, are yet to fully adjust to life back in League One and have lost their opening two fixtures and been beaten at Gillingham in the Capital One Cup.

Then again, there is also pressure on the Saddlers as they look to start on the front foot at home after struggling in front of their own supporters last season.

Holden, not a man to worry about recent history, insists the poor end the previous campaign has already been forgotten.

"Absolutely, it is behind us," he said. "It is a different team. I'm sure with fans it might still be there.

"I always find it funny when teams come up against each other on Sky and they look at the past history of how they have gone.

"It's different players - it is the badge which is going up against each other. We have a new squad and we are ready to look forward.

"They (Yeovil) will still come here and fancy their chances. They did well last time in this division.

"The reason they have come down is because they have not won many games and you do get that losing mentality in the squad.

"If you don't start well, that can fester and we have seen it at Leeds and Wolves recently.

"You have got to get that positive and winning mentality back and we have got that in the dressing room.

"We didn't win on Saturday but there is positive spin on things in the way we are playing and the lads who have come in.

"Billy Clifford has come in and has been outstanding and Liam Kinsella too. James Baxendale has played his part and was maybe unlucky to come out of the team.

"There are good players in the team and you can see that."