Walsall boss Darrell Clarke manages his resources in hunt for success

The Saddlers host Oxford tonight knowing a win in normal time will be enough to advance from Group L.

Anything less, though, would see Bristol Rovers – who beat Clarke’s men 2-1 in the FA Cup this past weekend – and Chelsea Under-21s have the chance to go through instead as they go up against each other later this month.

On facing the U’s, who are 21st in League One, Clarke said: “If you’re asking me if I want to do well in cup competitions, yes, but have I got the squad for it? No.

“That’s a simple fact. The league is our bread and butter.

“Bristol Rovers have a squad of 39/40 players, we haven’t got the biggest squad in the world and we have to be careful.

“That’s why there’s squad rotation. Robbo (Liam Roberts) did not train Thursday or Friday because he’s had a slight problem.

“We’re getting one or two things so we have to be careful how we manage that and still make sure we win the game.”

One of those who could come in for Walsall amid the rotation is Callum Cockerill-Mollett.

The left-back, who has had a rough time with injuries over the past year, is hoping to build on the half-hour he got as a substitute at the weekend.

“It depends what the gaffer thinks but I hope so,” said Cockerill-Mollett.

“I feel fit and ready to go and hopefully I can get a start.”

On Oxford’s threats, he added: “We know they’re going to be a good team, they’re higher opposition.

“We have to show them respect but not as much respect as we did against Bristol Rovers in the first half.

“We have to get in their face, get the ball back early and hopefully start well.

“We know what they’re about and what they’ve got, we experienced it last year in the FA Cup.

“They were very good when we played against them. We’re at home so we need to start brightly.”