Walsall's Dean Keates happy with selection headache

Keates, whose side remain unbeaten in League One, has seen a host of his squad players impress in recent weeks.

Kieron Morris, Josh Gordon, Connor Ronan and Kane Wilson have all given the manager something to think about after impressive showings in the league and Checkatrade Trophy.

And Keates is enjoying having different options at his disposal.

“These are the headaches you want as a manager,” he said.

“The lads have been outstanding, the ones who have come in.

“I say to them every week, if you’re not in the 18, try to get into the 18 and if you are not in the starting XI, get yourself into the starting XI.

“When you get an opportunity, make sure you stake your claim – and they have done that.

“Everyone who has come in has done their best to stake their claim for a starting spot. So I now have decisions to make on things tactically.”

Walsall’s committed displays this season have delighted fans.

And Keates said that was his number one aim for the campaign.

“The aim for me this season was to get the fans to buy back into the football club,” the boss continued.

“I wanted to make sure we progressed and we have done at the moment.

“There is a long long way to go but the big thing for me was to getting the fans to fall back in love with the football club and give the town something to be proud of.

“It is still early days, nothing has been done, nothing has been accomplished but what we have done is shown what this group of players is about.

“There are points where it will go up and points where it will go down.

“It will be a bit of a rollercoaster, but as long as the fans can see what the players are about, and this is giving everything to the shirt and to the club, I have no doubt that they will stay behind them.”