Neil Etheridge is loving life with Walsall

The 25-year-old has made an impressive start to his Saddlers career, after being snapped up by boss Dean Smith in the summer.

After helping guide the Saddlers to the top of League One table, Etheridge missed the defeats to Morecambe and Bury at the start of the month as he was called up for international duty with the Philippines.

And the Saddlers shot-stopper admits it was a huge boost to be placed straight back into the team to face Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.

He said: "It was fantastic for me to get my place back in the team. It was disappointing for Craig MacGillivray after two losses, I guess it was a chance for him.

"But, for me, I've been concentrating on myself. The performances I had at the start of the season, I believe, justify why I got my shirt back straight back after the international break.

"It was great to be back and also great to be back to winning ways."

Etheridge rewarded Smith's faith in him with a Man of the Match performance in the 2-0 win over Rovers and that result means the custodian is yet to lose in a Saddlers shirt.

He joked: "That's pressure for you! I haven't lost yet and that is absolutely fantastic. It was very disappointing while I was away on international duty to see the club lose twice, if I'm honest.

"I'm a very unselfish guy in that respect and I wanted the club to win and continue the form we were in – unfortunately we didn't.

"Now I'm back, we've got back to winning ways and I can carry on enjoying being the club's No 1 goalkeeper.

"It's fantastic and I've been very blessed, not just for me to be able to play every week but being able to join a team with a fantastic manager, back-room staff and players."