Express & Star

Walsall forward Josh Gordon out to impress on Potteries return

Josh Gordon believes he is slowly but surely getting back to his best as he returns to his home city for tomorrow’s clash with Port Vale.

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The 26-year-old was born and raised in the Potteries and spent time with Stoke City as a youngster.

He had a very brief spell on trial with Vale before working his way up the ranks in non-league.

Now one of Walsall’s star players, Gordon, who scored in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Morecambe, is getting back to his best after a medial knee injury had him sidelined for two months earlier in the season.

“It’s still going to take time but each game I feel like I’m getting better and that’s the main thing,” he said. “I’m playing different positions so I’m adjusting to that as well, but I feel fitter and stronger in each training session and each match.

“Getting goals helps to build that confidence as well.

“I don’t think about it (the injury) too much.

“I try to be clever with some of the tackles I go in to. Looking back at when I did my knee, potentially I could have let the guy hold it (the ball).

“Sometimes it’s about being clever with what I go in to, instead of going full throttle.

“It’s still 50/50, but I feel confident going into tackles.”

Midfielder Rory Holden is missing with a knee injury of his own and although the club are hoping to see him return next month, Gordon has faith in Holden’s ability to cope with with the comeback demands.

“Rory is a good lad, he’s mentally strong,” Gordon added. “Like me, he has the lads around him when you’re injured so he still feels part of the group.

“He’s just focusing now on trying to get back and we all want him back.

“He’s in the right frame of mind.”

Although they are underachieving this season, Vale pose a threat to any League Two side with the quality they have in their ranks.

Despite that, Walsall have a very good recent record against them with two wins and a draw in their last three meetings.

One of those was the incredible 4-3 comeback win in December at the Banks’s Stadium and Gordon is expecting them to be eager for revenge.

“It’s my home town so there is that competitive side there,” he said. “The main thing is the team trying to get the three points and work our way up the table. Make these draws positive.

“We have to take each game as it comes.

“I know we’ve done well against them but they’ve been tough games, like the one at our place this season.

“They’re going to want to get there revenge on us so we have to be strong and go there thinking we’re getting the three points.”

Meanwhile, manager Darrell Clarke believes Gordon’s midweek goal will serve him well.

He said: “He’s coming back to the boil. Seven or eight weeks out is a long time for a footballer.

“That goal will do him the world of good. He worked very hard as he always does for the football club.

“I’m sure they’ll be more to come.”

When asked about tomorrow’s game, Clarke added: “I enjoy every game and I want to win football games for my club.

“I want to win football games and get us out of this league.

“It’s a tough old league but we’ll keep working hard. Every second and minute of the day I’m focused on trying to get us better.”

Jack Rose, George Nurse, James Clarke and Danny Guthrie have all been missing with injury in the last two games and are unlikely to return in time for the trip to Vale Park.