Romaine Sawyers: No let up for Walsall

The 23-year-old took less than eight minutes of the new campaign to get off the mark, firing the Saddlers ahead in impressive fashion against Oldham on Saturday.

Sawyers has made no secret of his desire to find the net more frequently this term, having scored just 10 goals over the past two years.

The former Albion youth-team product has set a personal target with boss Dean Smith and has now promised not to rest on his laurels after making the ideal start.

He said: "Obviously, I have started well and it is just about maintaining that, helping the team as much as I can, so if I don't score someone else scores.

"I'm not going to say what the target is, I'm aware of it and the gaffer is aware of it. We will work towards it. I know it as well as anyone – I know I have got goals in me.

"The gaffer has always supported me. It's just a case of making it happen and it was good to get one on the opening day."

Despite Sawyers putting them ahead, the Saddlers had to settle for a point after substitute Jonathan Forte grabbed an equaliser with just seven minutes remaining.

Boss Smith later conceded the 1-1 draw was a 'fair result' and accused his team of being too wasteful in possession, a view with which Sawyers agreed.

He said: "We set a high standard because we see ourselves and brand ourselves as a footballing team.

"At times we did show why we brand ourselves like that, but at others we weren't up to the standards we set from last season or pre-season.

"Of course, we know there is stuff to work on but it is the first day of the season and there is a long way to go."

He added: "I don't think we can beat ourselves up too much about it.

"For sure we would like to have gone and scored a second and maybe that would have taken the sting out of them."

Meanwhile, Walsall's Banks's Stadium will host international football later this month when England Under-17s take on Turkey. The game forms part of the annual St George's Park tournament.

Portugal and Italy are also involved in the tournament, for which three games will take place at St George's Park – one at the Banks's, one at Burton's Pirelli Stadium and one at Telford's New Bucks Head.

Under the charge of new head coach Steve Cooper, the Young Lions will start their preparations for a renewed European Championship challenge.

England face Turkey at the Banks's on Friday, August 28, at 7pm, two days after playing Italy at Telford, again at 7pm.

The final England game is against Portugal at the Pirelli Stadium on August 30 at 3pm, with the tournament's non-England games all taking place behind-closed-doors at St George's Park.

Tickets for all three England games can be bought at £3 for adults and £1.50 concessions.