Express & Star

Fixture pile-up? Bring it on, roars Walsall boss Jon Witney

Published
Last updated

Jon Whitney has declared Walsall are the fittest team in League One and will have no problems dealing with their hectic run-in.

more

The international break has seen matches against Gillingham and Shrewsbury postponed, with Saddlers now set to play a staggering eight of their final nine games in April.

Automatic promotion rivals Wigan and Burton will have played twice before Walsall return to action at Sheffield United on April 2.

But Whitney insists he and his players are unfazed by their busy schedule, with the interim boss believing it's actually a good thing.

"I'm more than happy with eight games in April – I actually wanted it that way," Whitney said. "I wanted a run of Saturday/Tuesday because that is what we are about, we are the fittest team in this league. Most of our best performances this season have come on a Tuesday night.

"We will be better with a Saturday/Tuesday, Saturday/Tuesday, trust me. We will have momentum and we will keep going on the crest of the wave."

[comments_cta]

With Tom Bradshaw, Neil Etheridge, Jason Demetriou and Romaine Sawyers away with their national teams, Whitney is busy putting the rest of his squad through their paces.

And he says his players are being worked hard to ensure they are in the best possible shape.

"I could do with two weeks off because I haven't slept for three weeks," Whitney joked.

"The international break is good for us because we have got injuries, we have got knocks," said Whitney.

"Adam Chambers didn't play against Colchester but he should be okay for Sheffield United.

"I am glad we have got two weeks off because it will do us good.

"We will come back fresh and it's not as if we are having two weeks off and going on holiday to switch off.

"We are going to have double days, we are going to work them hard."

And he added: "What I do well is getting the players ready to play. I guarantee we will be ready for Sheffield United."