Dean Smith hails Walsall's new captain Adam Chambers

The 33-year-old former Albion midfielder was named as the Saddlers new skipper earlier this week.

Chambers takes over the armband from the inspirational Andy Butler, who left the club over the summer and moved to Sheffield United. Manager Smith admitted choosing Butler's successor had been no easy task but believes Chambers, who played for Leyton Orient when the Saddlers chief was assistant there, is the ideal man.

"We have some really good leaders," he said. "It was a tough decision in terms of the candidates I had for it.

"I think it was the fact that I have had Adam for a long time, he knows how I work or likes to work.

"He is as good a professional as you could find.

"He leads by example, he has a lot of respect in the dressing room.

"Adam is the man who I felt could take us forward and take on the mantle from Andy, he is very similar in that mould."

While Chambers will have the armband, Smith still wants others players to step up and show leadership and believes Paul Downing will prove to be a strong vice captain.

"The appointment of Paul Downing as vice captain for me was a good choice because he is maturing as a player."

and he has an awful lot of respect in the dressing room as well," he said. "He has nearly 100 games under his belt.

"You want captains all over the pitch – I know that's a cliché but you want leaders as well.

"James O'Connor has come in and has a lot of experience. There is James Chambers, Richard O'Donnell, Sam Mantom – all pushing to be the captain."

The Saddlers visit League Two outfit Mansfield Town tomorrow for their penultimate pre-season fixture.

Smith expects young keeper Craig MacGillivray to be back in contention after missing Wednesday night's game with Leicester City with a hamstring niggle, the same ailment which kept out midfielder Reece Flanagan.

Defender Ben Purkiss remains sidelined along with long-term absentee Jordan Cook. .