'Won't run the risk of injury' - Mat Sadler defends substitution of key Walsall frontman

Kanu was replaced with 18 minutes left in the Saddlers' 1-0 win over Crewe Alexandra on Boxing Day and was withdrawn for the closing stages in their defeat to Oldham Athletic on Monday. 

The away section voiced its dissatisfaction when Kanu was substituted for the final 10 minutes in their 2-0 loss at Cambridge, but Sadler insists that he cannot run the risk of him getting injured.

"I wish we could play every single player for 90 minutes in every game but it's clear that it's impossible to do that because they will just get injured," Sadler explained.

"I don't think anyone would rather someone get injured from over-playing. We played him for 81 minutes and their manager came over to me when I took Daniel off and was surprised. 

"We understand why people have to be looked after and we can't flog Daniel for every minute of every game. 

"We just can't do that if we want him to be playing for the next 22 games hopefully. I'm not willing to risk Daniel getting injured, he has played a hell of a lot of football and today was another day of that." 

Walsall have played nine games in all competitions since the end of November and face Fleetwood Town at Bescot on Sunday. 

They are scheduled to play another eight games across January and Sadler has hit out at just how congested the fixture schedule has become.

He added: "We all know how many games we've had and we all know how many games we've got. 

"So we've got another game again in two-and-a-half days time. It's obvious to everyone why we have to rotate the squad. 

"There were only two players that have played every minute [in the league] that started today. 

"We can't be silly with them. The fixtures are ridiculously relentless and I see no benefit from having played the 29th game, coming into this game to then play on January 4. 

"Managers up and down the country say it. Every year they look at the Christmas and think why is that extra game in there."