Krystian Bielik ready to show his worth at Walsall

The Poland youth international is stepping up his comeback from injury having not featured for the Saddlers since his January loan move from Arsenal.

The 20-year-old has been working with a physio away from the Banks’s Stadium after struggling with hamstring and knee injuries.

But now the midfielder, signed by former boss Jon Whitney, has tasted Walsall training under Keates and is ready to prove his worth to the team.

The former Blues loanee said: “My physiotherapist wanted to finish his job – which was to send me to Walsall fit.

“He did a great job, I feel better now and I’m focused on training and on the games. I want to deserve a place in the squad and play at my best.

“In every training session I try to do my best to impress the coach. Some people can say ‘oh, he came from Arsenal so he has to play’ but no, I know I have to deserve it from training.

“If the manager puts me in the squad I’ll try to stay there for as long as I can and play the most games the best that I can – and that’s my target for this season.”

Bielik, who watched last Wednesday’s home defeat to Wigan from the stands, added that he has settled in seamlessly to the squad.

He added: “They do like joking sometimes – and I understand it. I was maybe a bit stressed before I came to the dressing room but I did know that they would be really nice.”