James Clarke: Competition at back a big boost for Walsall

The defender missed four games after ‘popping’ his groin at Oldham in October but since he came back in for Walsall’s 2-1 win over Cambridge on November 16, the team has had an upturn in results.

They went five games unbeaten in all competitions before that run came to an end in the 1-0 FA Cup defeat to League One Oxford.

But Walsall bounced back from that loss with a 3-2 triumph over Chelsea in the EFL Trophy and a 1-0 win at Port Vale last time out in the league.

And with both Mat Sadler and Dan Scarr putting in improved performances, Clarke – who moved to left-back for the Vale triumph – says the competition is only healthy for the team.

“It keeps you on your toes with competition for places,” he said.

“If there’s just two of you then you know you’re playing and you may take your foot off the pedal.

“We’ve got Kory Roberts as well, so it’s good to have a bit of depth in there.

“They’ve given the gaffer a headache, whether to play us as a three or a two, it depends on how he wants to go.

Clarke’s injury came at a time when fellow experienced players Stuart Sinclair and Danny Guthrie were also missing with knocks.

But Sinclair and Guthrie are playing again now, with both starting the success at Vale Park, although the latter was replaced by Rory Holden shortly into the second half.

On his injury and returning to the fold, Clarke said: “It was Oldham away, I popped my groin but I couldn’t come off because we made three subs.

“Luckily, Rev (Marc Czuczman) got me back after a few weeks, so I’m thankful to him because he works his socks off to get the players back fit.

“We’ve had a lot of niggly injuries, and he’s done very well to get us back fit.”

He added: “I think to have experience of playing at this level is very important.

“It’s good to have us (Sinclair and Guthrie too) back in the team because we can only say so much from the sidelines.”

One of the younger players, meanwhile, aiming to make an impression – most likely off the bench –at the Banks’s tomorrow is Alfie Bates.

The 18-year-old midfielder has done well this term and Guthrie – who played for Liverpool, Bolton and Newcastle in the Premier League – is the latest to heap praise on the teenager.

“We have got a young squad and Alfie is a baby,” said Guthrie.

“But as you can see, he’s going to be a really good player.

“It’s up to me and other senior players around him to help him and guide him.

“They’re not easy games and there’s times where we’ll probably have to put our arm around him.

“He might have to come out the team at times.

“But he’s done brilliant and I really like him.

“He’s a big personality for a lad of his age.

“He has a hell of a chance to have a good career, and the manager trusts him.

“Especially at 18, in that position, during a difficult October the gaffer stuck with him and he did really well.

“If he keeps his feet on the floor, he has some chance.”

And with the Saddlers, who are 17th, aiming to make it four unbeaten in League Two against 15th-placed Macclesfield, Guthrie believes there is a nice blend of youth and experience in the squad.

“We have a really good mix when we have our full 11, in legs, experience and quality,” he added.

“It’s probably been dead frustrating for the gaffer because he’s not always had the mix that he’s wanted.

“When we’ve got our full squad we have a good mix.

“We just haven’t had that enough at times this season.”