Express & Star

Reece Flanagan: Walsall skipper Adam Chambers is my role model

Reece Flanagan has hailed Walsall captain Adam Chambers as the perfect role model as he continues to work on the defensive side of his game.

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The 23-year-old, who has come through the youth ranks at the Banks’s Stadium, made his first league start of the season at Plymouth on New Year’s Day.

Flanagan is now targeting a regular spot in Jon Whitney’s side after missing the majority of last season through injury. And he revealed the boss has challenged him to improve the defensive side of his game.

“The gaffer said to me earlier in the season I need to work on the defensive side of my game,” he said.

“I feel I have progressed but I need to make sure my defensive runs are as intense as my runs going forward. I needed to track back and get into the right positions quicker than I was.

“When it comes to being in the right position, Adam Chambers is the perfect role model for any young player.

“His positioning is always good, he breaks up play really well and he gets us playing from a defensive shape. Everything he does – his gym, his diet, his preparation for games – is based around football. He’s the consummate professional.”

Long-term, Flanagan sees himself playing just in front of Chambers in a central midfield role.

And he says playmaker Erhun Oztumer is another teammate he can learn from.

“Ideally I seem myself as someone who plays just in front of where Skip (Chambers) plays – one of the forward going midfielders,” he continued.

“Oztumer probably typifies it the most – getting on the ball, playing it forward and trying to create.

“When we’re out of possession he gets himself into positions where he’s ready to receive the ball.

“Off the ball, not a lot of people see what he does, but it’s something I can learn from.”

Flanagan believes his passing ability is his biggest strength as a player.

“I’d say my passing is my biggest strength,” he added.

“I think it’s always been in my repertoire to try to get it out to the players we want on the ball the most – the wingers and the forward players.

“I like to get it out to players quickly and hopefully I can carry on doing that, but also get forward and chip in with the odd goal.”