Franck Moussa: Seize your Walsall Checkatrade chance

The Saddlers travel to Bramall Lane to take on Chris Wilder's side in their second group game tonight.

Walsall began life in the competition with a 5-2 victory over Grimsby back in August.

The Blades, meanwhile, crashed to a penalty defeat to Leicester's under-21 side – with controversial changes to the competition ensuring all group games are settled by spot-kicks if the scores are level at 90 minutes.

Jon Whitney's side have endured a turbulent seven days with a 4-1 home defeat to Scunthorpe followed up with an impressive 2-1 victory over Millwall.

And with the heavy loss to the Iron still hurting, Moussa says every player must continue to prove they are worthy of pulling on a Saddlers shirt.

"When you have results like beating Bolton and Millwall – it is great for the squad," he said.

"But when you lose 4-1 at home, you have got to deal with it as a team and as an individual.

"We have all got to pull our weight and we have all got to encourage one another to do better.

"Sheffield United is now another opportunity to show as players we are capable of going out there and performing for this club.

"There might be changes to the team. But that just means it's a huge opportunity for the players that come in.

"We won against Millwall at the weekend, can we now do that again against Sheffield United?

"That is what we have to prove."

Whitney is expected to give a host of young players some game time having fielded the likes of Amadou Bakayoko, Craig MacGillivray and Callum Cockerill-Mollett in the win over Grimsby.

Joe Edwards will also return to the team having completed his three-match suspension following his dismissal against Bolton.

And with the size of Walsall's squad, Moussa believes it's vital young players come in and perform.

"We have had some good results and some not so good results this season but what we have had is competition for places," he continued. "When you look at the squad, every player is raring to go.

"Players like Amadou Bakayoko, when he gets a chance he wants to prove he can play every week.

"Everybody is in the same boat. If I am picked to play I will do my absolute best and everyone else will be the same."

After failing to win any of their first five games, Sheffield United have transformed their fortunes in League One, having now gone seven games unbeaten.

That run includes five victories but Moussa believes it's important the Saddlers stay focused on themselves.

"As a team we now have to make sure we're not going to have too many ups and downs," he added. "Now the players are starting to get to know each other we're starting to see what works and what doesn't.

"As a team and with the coaching staff we're going to have to look at how we can stay consistent. It's not just slaying giants, we have to perform consistently and find the right formula to help us to do that."