Ex-Walsall attacker Aramide Oteh hungry to "kick-start" career with The New Saints

Oteh was released by the Saddlers in the summer after experiencing an injury hit campaign during his second spell at Bescot. 

The 26-year-old has hit the goal scoring trail in Wales - registering five goals and two assists in nine appearances in the Cymru Premier. 

After signing in September, Oteh has been unable to participate in TNS's historic UEFA Conference League campaign but the attacker is grateful for the opportunity to prove himself again.

"It was a bit different this time around (being a free agent) because I was injured for large parts of that season at Walsall," he reflects.

"So I didn't really have anything to back myself with from the season before. It was just about hoping that my contacts and people that I played under before would give me good references. 

"It was tough but I'm just thankful to TNS for giving me the opportunity to kick-start my career again." 

Oteh first arrived at Walsall on loan from Queens Park Rangers in January 2018 but was restricted to just 13 appearances as they succumbed to relegation. 

He returned to Bescot with unfinished business during Mat Sadler's first summer at the helm and marked his second home debut with the decisive goal in Walsall's 2-1 win over Stockport County in August last year. 

The former Queens Park Rangers star was tasked with playing as a wing-back in Walsall's 3-5-2 formation and added a second to his tally in a 3-1 win at Bradford the following month. 

But his promising start was derailed by a long-term hamstring injury which hampered him for the rest of the campaign and Oteh admitted that things eventually fizzled out as he featured just twice more after the turn of the year.

"At that point, I came in and found out I'd be playing as a wing-back but I pushed and showed that I'm a striker or a winger," he reveals. 

"I played in those positions and got on the score sheet (against Stockport and Bradford). It was looking promising but then I got injured and things went back to square one again. 

"The team were doing well in a certain formation and the gaffer wanted to play me in a certain position which I felt it wasn't really beneficial for myself or the team so it kind of fizzled out. 

"After signing a one-year contract and after being injured for sometime, I knew that it was probably not where I was going to be playing my football come this season so we parted ways in the end. 

"My career hasn't really been plain sailing so I just make sure that I never get too high or too low wherever I go. 

"I was just want to continue enjoying my football. There's things in front of us that we're trying to achieve collectively and individually."