'Setbacks and video analysis' - Evan Weir, the Walsall defender with a 24/7 mindset

Many would suspect that the hard yards had already been put in on the training pitch, but his work is not yet done. 

After all, there is another game in 48 hours and the Irishman needs to be prepared. 

When he arrives home, Weir stoves himself away in a quiet room and turns on the TV to watch Walsall's upcoming opposition.

Equipped with the mental notes gleaned from the coaches and video analysts at Walsall: Weir conducts his own research, scribbling down any observation, which could potentially give him an edge. 

'That's the way you've got to be' - on using video analysis at Walsall

"That's the way you've got be. Going home after training, it's all about your recovery, getting right for the next session," Weir explains.

"I don't know where it's come from but I've always done it. I like watching the opposition the days before, or even sometimes the day of the game. 

"I'll watch all of the videos I can when I'm sat at home and just see how they play, the players and their positions. I'll also glance at the stats too on FotMob." 

Working as an electrician to becoming a 24-hour professional

He is what many would describe as a 24-hour professional and his work in the shadows has also been paying off on the pitch of late. 

Perhaps the reason Weir is so dedicated is because he was never really expected to make it to this stage. 

Weir was still working as an electrician at the start of 2022, juggling the need to make ends meet with his dream to turn professional. 

It seemed a distant goal at that stage, but suddenly Weir began to force more and more doors open.

Later that year, he signed a new contract with Drogheda and soon caught the eye of Walsall.

"It would've been maybe in my last season at Drogheda [that I realised I could make a career out of football] because I was working as an electrician and playing football at the same time," he recalls.

"But when I got offered a new deal, I was able to leave the electrician work and fully focus on football. 

"That's when I realised to myself that if I can knuckle down here, see what happens and then luckily Walsall came in."

Luck plays its part in any success story but hard work, dedication and discipline remain the bedrock for Weir.

"You've got to be level-headed. It's something I've always done and I go in with a game plan," he continues.

"If it doesn't work then there's always a plan B. I'm just going to keep training hard, keep working hard, keep running. 

"There's been a few lows. One of my old managers dropped me from the team altogether.

"I had to leave and find a new team, but he always said you reap what you sow. 

"That just stuck with me in terms of if you don't put the work in then you're not going to be ready." 

'I just want to make my family proud'

Weir spent his first season in England learning in the shadow of star man Taylor Allen. 

Allen's blistering form meant Weir had to bide his time, but he still made good use of his limited minutes.

Now, Weir's status in the first team has changed completely in the wake of Allen's summer switch to Wycombe Wanderers in League One. 

But settling and getting comfortable is not in Weir's nature and he certainly won't be resting on his laurels.

"My dad wouldn't let me just slack it off if anything wasn't going right," he concludes.

"My mum and brother would all be the same. They try to come over as many times as they can and I want to make sure that I'm in the team for when they come. 

"I want to make them happy and make them proud."