'Best human being' - Walsall boss explains difficult Albert Adomah call

Lee Grant says he has been blown away by Albert Adomah’s response to being left out for the past two games for Walsall.

The 38-year-old is just one shy of reaching 800 club career appearances, but has not been included in the squad for the back-to-back goalless draws against Exeter City and Rochdale respectively.

Grant admitted that omitting Adomah “didn’t feel good” but the Walsall head coach has been amazed by the professionalism he has shown in the wake of his decision.

‘Best human being’ - Grant on Adomah’s response

“He’s literally the best human being you could ever hope to ask for,” Grant said.

“I’m pulling Albert at Exeter and it doesn’t feel good to pull Albert Adomah, whose has such a good player for the club, has been working so hard and sets such a high standard.

“It doesn’t feel good to say: ‘Albert, it’s not your turn today at Exeter’ and obviously it was the same again today [against Rochdale on Saturday].

“He’ll get his moment, he’ll get his chance and he’ll fully deserve it when it comes.”

Adomah - who turns 39 in December - has featured three times for the bench for Walsall this term, but the standard that he sets within the dressing room has not got unnoticed by Grant.

‘Albert sets the standard for everybody’

“It should be private, but I don’t think Albert will mind. The first time I pulled Albert at Exeter on the pitch and told him that you’re not going to be on the pitch.

“He put his arm back around me and said: ‘It’s not about me, it’s about the team and no worries’.

“That just almost knocks your socks off. It’s top and that sets the standard for everybody else because Albert is our most experienced and trains top every day.

“If you’re anybody else and you fall short of that bar that Albert has just set there then good luck to you.

“That’s important for the whole group to see that and important that every sort of toes the line on that.”