Poll: Should Walsall bring Romaine Sawyers back this summer?

The 33-year-old was introduced shortly after the hour-mark as 'Trialist B' although it quickly became clear that he was a familiar face to the home faithful. 

Summer signing Harrison Burke scored the winning goal in the 38th-minute to maintain the Saddlers' 100 per cent record in pre-season so far.

At the time of writing, a recent poll saw a resounding 92 per cent of Walsall fans vote in favour of Sawyers' returning to the club this summer.

Sawyers, who turns 34 in November, scored 19 goals and set-up 25 more in 161 appearances for the Saddlers between 2013 and 2016. 

The St Kitts & Nevis international was named in the PFA League One team of the year in his final season at Bescot, before he eventually departed for Brentford to be reunited with ex-Walsall boss Dean Smith in 2016. 

He spent three seasons with the Bees before returning to boyhood club West Brom where he achieved promotion to the Premier League in 2020 and made 19 top-flight appearances. 

More recently, Sawyers had a one-month loan spell at AFC Wimbledon midway into the previous campaign and spent the remainder of the season with Bristol Rovers in League One. 

A free agent once again, the midfielder is back with his former club at Essington, and also featured in the behind-closed-doors friendly against Hereford on Saturday, which Walsall won 3-0. 

Mat Sadler confirmed Sawyers was on trial with the Saddlers, but stressed that nothing has been decided at this stage. 

"We're just looking at each other and everything is very open," the Walsall boss said on Wednesday night.

"We'll just see. Everyone's cards are completely open but there is nothing committed from anybody at the moment." 

Walsall are on the market for midfield options after bolstering the wing-back and attacking areas this summer. 

Sawyers played as a No 10 during his previous spell at Walsall, but replaced Brandon Comley in holding midfield against Villa.