Express & Star

Luke Leahy: Walsall must step up for Joe Edwards

Luke Leahy believes all Walsall’s players have to step up and be counted following the injury to vice-captain Joe Edwards.

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It was revealed on Tuesday that Edwards is potentially facing nine months on the sidelines after injuring his anterior cruciate knee ligament in the loss to Blackburn.

As well as being arguably the best player on the field this season, the Saddlers vice-captain is also one of the loudest voices in the changing room.

And Leahy believes all the Walsall squad must raise their game now Edwards is unavailable.

“The news has affected the boys but we need to carry on going,” the full-back said. “Joe has been superb this season and he is brilliant around the dressing room.

“He is one of the boys you can go to if you want advice. He is also one of the most vocal in meetings, he speaks up. We all need to take responsibility now because he is out and it’s a big blow.

“Joe is a leader of the group, he is one of the lads the players look up to. But we all need to lead now to make sure we move in the right direction.

“It can’t just be three or four of us doing it. We all need to step up and and be counted.

“Hopefully we’ll all show that leadership at Southend on Saturday.”

Leahy also believes the team must start doing the basics of the game properly following their defeat at Peterborough on Tuesday.

The Saddlers fell to a 2-1 loss at London Road with individual errors from Nicky Devlin and Erhun Oztumer gifting Posh their goals.

“We have to start doing the basics properly – myself included,” Leahy added.

“We all know mistakes are going to happen in football. But it seems with us it’s happening in each game.”

Meanwhile, Walsall’s home game with Wigan has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 21 (7.45pm), with the Latics in FA Cup action on the original date of March 17.