Walsall's Romaine Sawyers 'in top five'
Walsall's James O'Connor has heaped praise on team-mate Romaine Sawyers by insisting he is the one of the best he has ever played with.
Sawyers has been in inspirational form the Saddlers this season having netted six goals, the same total he management for the entire 2014/15 campaign.
And O'Connor, who has also enjoyed a fine season at the heart of the Walsall defence, has acknowledged his team-mate's achievements while maintaining there is plenty more to come.
The centre-back said: "With each passing week Romaine just gets better and better. He is getting a lot more plaudits now because he s getting assists and goals.
"But ever since he came to the club he has had the ability – it's just he is really starting to show it now. The consistency is there and he has got the potential to go as high as he wants.
"His understanding of the game is something that people often don't see. He can dictate a game from different areas of the pitch – that's a great talent to have."
O'Connor has played alongside a host of talented players in a career that has also seen him turn out for the likes of Bournemouth, Doncaster Rovers and Derby County.
But O'Connor believes the St Kitts & Nevis international is among the best players he has come across.
The 31-year-old said: "The biggest compliment I can give him is that now he would make my ultimate five-a-side team.
"It was a few months ago now that I had to pick my best best five-a-side team and I didn't pick him.
"But if I had picked it a few weeks later he would have got in it. That is how well he has been playing this year.
"He is one of the best players I have played with in my career."
Meanwhile, O'Connor revealed none of Walsall's players are getting dragged into the speculation regarding who will be the next club's permanent manager.
He added: "I think as players you have to put that kind of thing behind you and just get on with your own game.
"It's important we keep doing the right things day in, day out and keep looking out for your team mates.
"You've got to stay close together as a bunch and see what happens. It's a decision that is completely out of our hands."
