Mat Sadler urges Walsall loanee Levi Amantchi to "fight for his place" at Rochdale

Rochdale striker Emmanuel Dieseruvwe's remarkable return of 11 goals in 13 games this season has reduced Amantchi to minutes from the bench, but Sadler feels the 24-year-old will benefit from the experience of battling for a place.

Boss Sadler said: "Firstly, Rochdale are doing brilliantly so kudos to them, but obviously we want Levi to be playing. 

"The important thing from my point of view is that this is football and it's not always going to be a straight line.

"I say it to our guys all of the time. It can't always be a case that if it's not working out then you want to leave. 

"He has got to fight for his place, that's the most important thing now. He has got to fight for minutes and fight for his place in a team that is doing really well at the top of their division. 

"As much as thinking about plans for January, I'm thinking about things for now for Levi. He has got to try and force his way back into the team through the way that he is training and then show what he's all about when he plays. 

"And he can use this as another good experience. Hopefully for him there will come a point where he can't be overlooked. 

"He is on a really good, strong loan, at the moment with a fantastic team that is doing very well." 

Amantchi, whose loan is due to expire on January 3, wasn't introduced until the 90th-minute during Rochdale's goalless draw against Woking on Saturday. 

Rochdale still sit one-point clear at the National League summit, with two games in hand.