Walsall striker Troy Deeney anxious to escape big freeze

Dec 31 2009 by Brian Halford, Birmingham Mail

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TROY Deeney can’t wait for the next game to arrive after he returned to Walsall’s team – and the scoresheet – in their last match against Leyton Orient.

Deeney was back up front against The Os after serving a one-match ban for five bookings and duly marked his return with two goals as the Saddlers fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2.

Since then he has been as frustrated as anyone as Walsall’s games against Bristol Rovers and Norwich were lost to the big freeze. So the striker is hoping the weather relents in time to allow the Saddlers’ home match with high-flying Charlton Athletic to go ahead on Saturday.

And then he wants to “pay back” his team-mates a bit more by finding the net again.

“I let the boys down with a poor yellow card against Southampton to get myself suspended,” Deeney said. “So I took it upon myself to pay them back against Orient by proving I should be in the team. If Sam Parkin hadn’t had a bit of trouble with his back I think I would have only been on the bench.

“I would have been happier if we had taken all three points but, on a personal note, it was nice to get back on the scoresheet. The week before I was looking at the fixtures list in the Birmingham Mail and saw I’d gone a few games without a goal so it’s good to end that run.

“When you miss a game you appreciate even more what it’s like to be in the team. Not being in the team for the game at Millwall was a disappointment. Just to not feel the same vibe when you are coming in on Monday morning after a game is not a nice feeling.”

With eight goals this season, Deeney has been one of the first names on the Walsall team sheet up front. But he knows he can’t afford to go off the boil with Parkin, Darren Byfield and Alex Nicholls for competition.

“You just have to work hard and hope you get the nod,” the striker said. “Ask Alex Nicholls, who hasn’t been in the team but works harder than anybody. You just want to be in the team and with games coming up thick and fast no-one wants to be on the bench.”

■ Walsall’s home game with Norwich, postponed last Monday, has been rearranged for January 12.