Walsall boss explains Jamie Jellis decision in Accrington defeat
Mat Sadler says he wanted to provide Jamie Jellis with a rest, after starting the Walsall midfielder on the bench in their 1-0 defeat against Accrington Stanley at Bescot on Saturday.
Jellis had started every game, barring the 3-0 defeat at Bradford City in January which he missed with a knee injury, since the turn of the year.
Birmingham City loanee George Hall was handed his second start in three games in his absence, although Jellis was introduced midway into the second half.
Oisin McEntee also started in midfield alongside Alfie Chang who made back-to-back starts for the club for the first time.
"I thought Oisin played well until he was tired and that was similar with Chang. We've got good players so for those two, that's what that was," Walsall boss Sadler explained.
"In terms of Jamie. I think he has played a hell of a lot of football is his first full EFL season.
"I think it's fair to say that even him by his own standards that he has felt leggy at times. So I wanted to give him that rest.
"We're very lucky to have George Hall step up to the mantle as well."
The 24-year-old has made 51 appearances across all competitions during his first full season in the EFL - scoring seven goals and setting up two more.
However, Jellis has not found the net in 13 games, with his last strike coming in the Saddlers' last win in League Two: a 2-0 success at relegated Morecambe on February 22.
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