"We have to look after him" Mat Sadler explains George Hall situation at Walsall

Hall returned from a long-term hamstring injury as a second half substitute during the Saddlers' 1-1 draw against AFC Wimbledon on April 29. 

He made two further cameos from the bench against Port Vale and Barrow respectively before making his first start in over four months in the 2-2 draw against Harrogate Town on Good Friday. 

However, the Birmingham City loanee was named among the subs for the goalless stalemate at Newport County on Easter Monday and Sadler has revealed that that was always the plan.

He said: "I knew I had to do what I did with Hally at the start of the weekend. For me, it was a decision over which one do I start him in and which one does he come on in. 

"I have to look after my players. He is clearly a very explosive player and he plays with that fearless approach to his game. 

"So I have to look after him at certain times. As much as I love having George Hall, he's an incredibly talented player who I love working with. 

"That was what I was always going to do with what has happened with his injury history in the past." 

Hall has had a stop-start spell with the Saddlers since arriving on loan from Birmingham on transfer deadline day in September. 

He missed just under a month with a back injury earlier in the campaign and was ruled out for four months after returning to his parent club Birmingham to undergo surgery on a hamstring injury. 

The former England under-19 international has made 17 appearances in all competitions for Walsall this term - registering two goals and two assists apiece.