Maz Kouhyar on the hunt for more Walsall goals
Maz Kouhyar is targeting more goals and more starts as he continues to make his mark on Walsall’s first team.
The 20-year-old has featured 12 times for the Saddlers this season and netted his first league goal for the club in the 1-1 draw at Rochdale last month.
Kouhyar, who is an Afghanistan international, has been a regular on Walsall’s substitutes bench throughout the 2017/18 campaign. And he is now hoping to earn more starts in the second half of the season.
“I wrote down my aims for the season back in August,” the winger said.
“I wanted five goals in all competitions and to get as many minutes as possible.
“It was a great feeling to get my first league goal at Rochdale. It was an important goal as well with coming in the 90th minute.
“But it has just made me hungry for more goals and minutes. It’s been a good season for me so far. Obviously I’d like to have got more minutes but I think that will come.”
Kouhyar revealed he is particularly grateful to manager Jon Whitney for the faith the 47-year-old has shown in him.
“The manager has been great with me – he is a really good gaffer,” the youngster added.
“On the training ground he talks to me a lot.
“We look at the areas I need to improve and work on.
“I’m really grateful for the chance he has given me. Now I want to repay the faith he has show in me.”
Meanwhile, Walsall could be set for a financial boost with former striker Tom Bradshaw being linked with a move away from Barnsley.
The 25-year-old left the Saddlers to join the Tykes back in 2016 for a fee in the region of £600,000.
Walsall included an unspecified sell-on-clause in the deal with the forward having gone on to net 11 times in 22 starts for Paul Heckingbottom’s side this season.
And that form has alerted other clubs in the Championship with Reading, Ipswich and QPR all reported to be interested in signing the Welsh international this January.
Elsewhere, Walsall have announced their League One clash with Rochdale, scheduled for January 27, will now take place on Tuesday, March 6.
The game has been re-arranged due to Keith Hill's side still being in the FA Cup.
