Walsall goalkeeper 'living in the moment'

After a challenging summer, Hornby wants to live fully in the moment and last Tuesday provided him with his deserved moment in the spotlight.

“I really enjoyed it (against Birmingham last week) and you’ve just got to enjoy moments like that when they come along because you don’t know if they’re going to come along again,” he reflects.

“In the summer, it was tough. I didn’t have a football club so I didn’t know what was next. Then when you get a moment like Tuesday night, you’ve just got to enjoy every moment with a smile on your face and realise how difficult it is to be a professional footballer at times.”

At 29, Hornby has spent the majority of his career as second-choice between the sticks at the likes of Port Vale, Bradford City and Colchester United.

However, following his release from Colchester, the former Walsall academy player found himself in an unfamiliar situation.

He jetted off to Spain for a trial with Chesterfield before continuing his quest to find a new club with Walsall.

And it was his stellar showing in a 3-2 win at Tamworth, which ultimately paved the road back to Bescot.

“I’ve been fortunate to never have to do it (be a trialist) until this summer. It’s hard but you’ve just got to throw yourself in at the deep end,” he reveals.

“I thought the trial here went pretty well. I played in the second half against Villa, and then we played at Tamworth and I enjoyed it.

“As far as trial games go, that was quite a good one. It was important to get a good 90 minutes under my belt and show the staff and the gaffer what I could do.

“You’ve just got to get to know people and I think that helps with being a little bit older. I’m not as shy, I’ll interact with the lads, and I’ve probably played against the majority of them last year or the year before when I was at Colchester.

“So yes, you’ve just got to throw yourself in at the deep end and just embrace the challenge that it is.”