Walsall midfielder Alfie Chang returns to training ahead of Crewe clash
Walsall midfielder Alfie Chang returned to full training on Thursday after struggling with a knee issue in recent weeks.
The January signing has not featured since a 3-1 home defeat against Barnet on February 7 and Mat Sadler revealed that a knee problem has prevented him from training at his maximum level.
Chang was once again absent for Sadler's final game at the helm in a 1-0 defeat at Salford City last weekend, but will be assessed ahead of their trip to Crewe Alexandra.
The 23-year-old missed 17 months prior to his initial loan switch to Walsall in January 2025, and Sadler admitted that Chang will need to manage the problems created by that injury for the rest of his career.
Chang returns to training
"He did his return to play session on Monday and trained with the non-trainers on Tuesday morning," Sadler revealed in his final interview as Walsall boss.
"Then he will train properly with everyone on Thursday. Hopefully he comes through that OK and hopefully his knee doesn't swell up.
"Alfie has got to manage that throughout the rest of his career with the severe injury that he had.
"He hasn't felt like he has been able to train full tilt for two or three weeks now.
"Hopefully what we've done will settle that down."
Sadler also confirmed in his final interview as Walsall boss that Pattison was missing at Salford due to illness.
The 28-year-old, who arrived from Bradford City in January, has started on the bench in the past three games for Walsall.
He was introduced as a late substitute during the Saddlers' 2-1 home defeat against Notts County on Saturday, but did not travel with the squad to Salford.
On his absence, boss Sadler said: "He trained on Monday but was ill overnight."
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