Walsall boss mulls changes for FA Cup clash with League Two rivals

Lee Grant is mulling changes to Walsall’s team for Saturday’s trip to Newport as he targets an FA Cup run.

The Saddlers boss is considering giving some of his fringe players a run out in the first round tie against their League Two rivals.

But he will balance it against disrupting momentum for his team and while promotion is obviously the top priority for this season, Grant also wants a Cup run.

Asked if he was planning changes, he replied: “It’s a good question and the honest answer is I don’t know. The team we pick will be a team to win the game.

“We try and do that every week. Is there an opportunity this week to maybe widen the scope a little bit more? Perhaps.

“We have shown over the course of all the league and cup games so far we are going to use everyone, anyway.

“In the next few weeks we play in three competitions and we will use everyone in this building who is fit and available.

“This weekend with that in mind, perhaps there will be one or two changes.”

Grant beat Leicester and Sunderland in last season’s League Cup, before they were knocked out by Manchester City.

He added: “It would be lovely to be in a position in the third round, the same as so many clubs in our position are dreaming.

“We just know that not for one minute can we overlook Newport. Not for one minute can we allow ourselves to be in the second round. This is going to be really tough.”