Walsall boss Mat Sadler heaps praise on young midfielder

The 22-year-old netted a pivotal goal in Walsall’s quest for promotion to League One as he fired the Saddlers two goals up at the SMH Group Stadium during the play-off first leg victory over Chesterfield. 

Liam Gordon’s cross was only half cleared, and the Birmingham City loanee charged onto it and thumped it past Spireites goalkeeper Ryan Boot. 

Chang has not had it straightforward in recent times. The youngster battled to get back from a 17-month absence due to a serious knee injury he picked up in Blues training in August 2023. 

And his boss, Sadler, believes Walsall are now reaping the benefits. 

"So, so pleased for Alfie," he said. "I knew when we signed him, I knew exactly where he was at, in terms of his recovery.

"He was at the very beginning of it, in terms of once you're back and when you're back, you think you're back, but you're not back.

"And after such a difficult injury for him, it's taken a little bit of time, and it's exactly how it should be.

"So, we're kind of seeing the benefits of a fit Alfie Changy now. I'm sure he'll want to just keep going from strength to strength because he's a fantastic footballer.”

As well as Chang, the Saddlers have George Hall, Nathan Asiimwe and Tommy Simkin on loan from clubs higher up the football pyramid - they were all in the starting XI at the weekend. 

Hall, like Chang, is from Blues, Asiimwe is from Charlton, and Simkin is from Stoke. 

And Sadler went on to say if they are trying to create an identity, then it is so important they maintain their relationships with clubs. 

"We want an identity at this football club,” he continued. “And we've been saying it for a while, but we want that. And with that identity, we have to have really good relationships with football clubs, not only locally to us, but further afield.”

Walsall welcome Chesterfield to Bescot on Friday night for the second leg of their crunch clash under the lights.