Mat Sadler backs Walsall defender Priestley Farquharson to comeback "stronger" after injury setback
Mat Sadler insists Walsall centre-back Priestley Farquharson will "come back stronger" after suffering another injury setback.
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Farquharson has been out of action since hobbling off with a thigh injury during Walsall's 1-0 defeat at Tranmere Rovers in August.
The defender underwent surgery and was initially ruled out for three months although Sadler later conceded that he was targeting a return in the New Year.
Farquharson stepped up his rehabilitation last month by participating in his first warm-up at Essington but learned recently that he is poised for a further two months on the side lines after seeing a specialist.
That means a possible return for March next year and Sadler believes the team will rally around Farquharson to keep his spirits high during such a testing period.
He said: "It's always important to remember that they're guys who're going through the same pressures as everybody.
"Personal lives when you have things like this. There's other things throughout the season that we've had but then everyone can see for Priestley that he's not playing which attacks your ego and attacks your soul as a player.
"I'm gutted for him that that's been extended because he was well on the way back but I know he'll be back stronger. That's the type of guy he is and it's a scary thought to think of him coming back stronger."
Walsall collected back-to-back wins over fellow promotion contenders Notts County and Port Vale respectively last week to propel themselves into top spot in League Two.
Both victories came in the wake of a 4-0 defeat against Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup second round and Sadler feels the character of his side shows to the fan base just how "much it means to everybody" to play for Walsall.
"There's just some good people here. There's some people who're characters and I think the supporters can see that as well," he continued.
"There's some guys in here that they can really rally behind. You can see how much we're giving each and every game and you can see how much it means to us all.
"A real young, hungry team about us and that puts you in a good place to start with. It's the same message with a willingness to deal with setbacks, move forward and to leave them in the past.
"Our group do that really well and we're going to have to keep doing that because that's football."
