Scott Laird loving the busy League One schedule for Walsall

The Saddlers host Gillingham at the Banks's Stadium on Saturday before then travelling to take on Rochdale on Tuesday.

That clash is followed by a home fixture with Southend on November 26 before Jon Whitney's side then head to Sheffield United on November 29.

The Saddlers enter the frantic spell in impressive form having gone six games unbeaten in League One.

But while some players may see the schedule as gruelling, Laird cannot wait for it to start.

"I'm not one of these footballers who moans about 'too many games' because we have to play Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday," Laird said.

"It's brilliant to play football Saturday, Tuesday – especially now under the lights.

"It's getting darker and colder and you see your breath when you breathe – that's what football is all about. You get muddy.

"I think this time of the year is really exciting and as a team we can't wait for it.

"We're going to really attack it and hopefully pick up some really good points and put ourselves in a good position to head into the second half of the season."

Laird netted his first league goal for the Saddlers on Saturday in the 1-1 draw at MK Dons. But while he was pleased to get on the scoresheet, the left-back felt his side should have clinched all three points with Dean Bowditch netting a 90th-minute equaliser for the hosts.

"It was brilliant to score my first league goal for the club," the Scunthorpe loanee continued. "It had been coming, I was due another one. It was my second of the season but the other one came in the Checkatrade so it was nice to score in the league.

"And I think in the end it should have been good enough.

"We put in a very good performance. But it was one where we should have seen out the 1-0.

"Ethers (Neil Etheridge) made a couple of routine saves, nothing to write home about, and it felt very comfortable.

"But a side like MK Dons has always got a moment of quality and they showed that at the end and nicked the draw.

"That's football, that's the beauty of the game so we've got to learn from it ahead of another big game against Gillingham on Saturday."

Laird, whose loan deal from Scunthorpe expires in January, has gone on record to state he wants to extend his stay at the Banks's Stadium.

And while the Iron are currently riding high at the top of League One, the 28-year-old insists he has no regrets moving on.

"I've got no regrets at all," Laird added. "Every team I've been at, I've been happy.

"Scunthorpe are my parent club and I hope they do succeed and go up. They deserve it.

"They have got some very good players there and a very good squad.

"But at the moment my sole focus is on Walsall and I am loving my football.

"I've got the buzz back, I love turning up every day and I can't wait for the next game.

"I'd want to play every day if we could so I can't wait for next Saturday. I wish there had been a game this week!"