Walsall boss gives striker update and expresses confidence

Mat Sadler insists he doesn’t “foresee too many scenarios” where Walsall won’t have added to the frontline before transfer deadline day.

The Saddlers now only have two healthy center-forwards in Josh Gordon and Jamille Matt, however summer acquisition Albert Adomah has filled in as a makeshift striker in the last two games.

Danny Johnson, meanwhile, is back on the grass but hasn’t started working out with the team yet. He missed the entire preseason due to a viral virus. It’s still unknown when he will return.

Last week, Sadler disclosed that Walsall had suffered two setbacks in their attempt to strengthen their attacking lineup: two loan agreements had fallen through as a result of the parent clubs “readjusting their stance.”

The team’s two early-season victories—a 1-0 victory over Morecambe in the league and an EFL Cup shootout victory over Exeter City—have allayed some of the angst over the absence of new players.

Still, the hunt for additional attacking forces is a popular subject of conversation.

“I don’t see there being too many scenarios where we haven’t bought people in,” stated Boss Sadler. The majority of supporters want the team to be assembled right away.

“I would prefer it to be the squad’s formation at the beginning of July and nothing more.” Even though you have 24 players, not every base is covered, which is terrible.

“Therefore, I can only reiterate to advocates that I am well aware of the areas in which we require reinforcement and that I will make the necessary arrangements when they arise.”

Sadler refused to discuss the hypothetical alternative when asked what he would do if the attack hadn’t been enhanced by the time the window closed at the end of the month.

Rather, he wishes to devote all of his attention to signing two more strikers and maximizing the potential of Matt and Josh Gordon.

He continued by saying that he “trusts” the two completely and that his only goal in making the investment is to help them out right away.

“We clearly know where we need to strengthen, so I don’t want to go down that hypothetical route. I think that will just be drumming up something that suggests I’m thinking otherwise,” he said.

“I’ve never been one to constantly say that my spots aren’t good enough and we need to bring players in.” When you do that in the dressing room, it’s extremely risky because I want Josh Gordon and Jamille Matt, my boys, to know that they are handling everything and that I have complete faith in them.

“My role is to provide them with some assistance for certain games and times during the season when we will require various strategies to go on and win games.

“I always take great caution when I speak on this topic because I want to make sure that the guys here are giving me everything they have and that my constant insistence that we need players won’t damage the unity and camaraderie we’ve built.

“But it’s obvious that we know we need a few more options up top, so that’s what we’ll do.”