Simeon Jackson relishing Walsall's attacking qualities

The striker, who was snapped by the Saddlers in the summer, has hit the ground running at the Banks's Stadium with five goals in his first 12 games for the club.

Jackson has primarily been used as a lone frontman, with Jon Whitney tending to a favour a 4-2-3-1 formation.

But with the likes of Erhun Oztumer, Kieron Morris, Florent Cuvelier, Andreas Makris and Franck Moussa all operating behind him, the 29-year-old says he can enter every game confident of scoring.

"With the players I have behind me, I know I am going to get chances," Jackson said. "When you have that, you go into every game believing you have a great chance of scoring.

"It's amazing. Not often do you get to play with so many players who can create something out of nothing.

"Now we just have to keep working hard to ensure we get better and that the partnerships continue to improve."

Meanwhile, Jackson revealed he tries to appreciate every day as a professional footballer after initially being released as a youngster by Gillingham.

"When I was a teenager, Gillingham invited me for a trial – I trained there for a few weeks but I got released so I had to start from scratch," he said. "I was playing non-league and Sunday league just to play as much as I could.

"But I came home one day and my nan looked at me and said I had to get a job.

"I went into Croydon and got some application forms. I had an interview with McDonald's and got it.

"Then my nan said I had to register for college as well so I registered at Croydon College.

"I sat in class on the first day and I asked the instructor how long the day was and he told me 9-5.

"I waited until the break, walked out and told myself I was never going back.

"A month later I signed for Rushden & Diamonds. It all worked out but it could have gone another way.

"Now when I look back on it, to be able to go out and do what I love every day – it's hard to explain.

"I am so grateful and appreciate everything that comes with it."