Alex Nicholls' aim for Walsall goal glut

Walsall striker Alex Nicholls has vowed to be worth his weight in goals next season and repay the club for handing him a new contract.

The forward penned a new two-year contract on Friday but is keen to up his strike-rate and justify his extension.

Nicholls has scored just 15 goals in 127 games since making his Saddlers' debut in 2005 and pledged to improve next term.

He said: "There were times last season where I had chances and fluffed my lines.

"It's something I'm trying to work on in training and I will be working on it over the summer. Strikers get judged on goals and I need to bring that into my game.

"After training, I stayed behind and practiced finishing last season, so it's at least something you can work on. It's not something I can't change, it's in my hands. I feel I'm a good professional and I can work on it.

"To be honest, throughout the youth team and reserves, I scored a lot but I've just struggled to find goals in the first team."

The 22-year-old has repeatedly voiced his desire to start up front and the majority of his games have come on the right wing.

Nicholls was given a consistent run up front at the end of last season, scoring in the 4-3 defeat at Huddersfield, and now wants to follow Troy Deeney's lead.

Player of the Season Deeney scored 14 goals last season, after moving back up front following a stint on the wing under former boss Jimmy Mullen.

Stourbridge-born Nicholls said: "I'm in the same predicament after being playing out of position. Troy has kicked on, because a couple of years ago no one would have expected him to be playing up front and scoring as many goals. I can take confidence out of what he's done and hopefully I can do the same.

"Troy works hard and we do well when we play together up front. We've played together for many years in the reserves and it was only last season we didn't play regularly.

"We have always had a good relationship off the pitch and we click on it."