Walsall forward Jamille Matt setting targets after getting off the mark
Walsall vice-captain Jamille Matt is targeting more goals this season after getting off the mark in the 4-0 victory at Swindon Town last week.
Matt weighed in with six goals in all competitions for Walsall last term including four goals after the turn of the year.
The 34-year-old, who is just six shy of a century of league goals in the EFL, doubled Walsall’s advantage with a clinical header from Taylor Allen’s cross in the 40th minute at the County Ground.
The veteran feels he can still serve as a focal point in attack even without finding the net, but is keen to hit the goal scoring trail again this term.
“Even when I’m not scoring, I’ll still try and be a focal point for the team,” the Walsall marksman noted.
“Maybe when I was a little bit younger, I was more desperate to score (early in the season) but I know I can also add things to the team when I’m not scoring.
“I’m always confident if I get the chances in the box that I’ll put them away.
“I was happy to get off the mark (against Swindon) first and foremost because I want to get more goals this year.”
Matt finished last season with 38 league appearances but completed 90 minutes just once in League Two.
Mat Sadler had to carefully manage his minutes during the latter stages of the previous campaign as he nursed a number of minor injury issues to feature in games.
He amassed 73 minutes in his previous outing at Swindon and is eager to go to repay Sadler for the respect and faith he has shown in him since his appointment last summer.
“I felt really good going into the game (against Morecambe) off the back of training but I had something that held me back a little bit,” he revealed.
“I’ll be much better for getting minutes against Exeter on Tuesday and then another 73 minutes at Swindon.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the gaffer. He has always been brilliant with me from the moment he took over.
“The way he spoke to me, the way he has treated me with respect and it’s reciprocated from myself.
“I’ll always put myself out there for him for that reason. He has got all the respect of the whole squad and everyone will cover every blade of grass for him.”
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