David Bevan keen to grab his Saddlers chance

Mystery man David Bevan is ready to claim the spotlight - after revealing he was eyeing a move before his Walsall revival.

The Saddlers' third choice keeper is set for his home bow against Huddersfield tomorrow determined to become the club's No.1.

Yet it could have been so different had Bevan persevered with thoughts of a loan switch following seven frustrating months on the Banks's Stadium sidelines.

A lack of action - even in the form of bench warming — left him contemplating his future at the Saddlers as he sat behind Jimmy Walker and Jonny Brain.

The return of Walker in October boosted the fans but pushed Bevan back as as ex-boss Chris Hutchings kept faith with error-prone Brain as No.2.

But jovial Bevan does not seem the type to indulge in misery or self pity — something he could have quite easily have done in his early days at Walsall.

And while the 22-year-old insisted leaving for good never crossed his mind, he admitted a loan move did.

He said: "That came into question, I thought maybe I'd have to go somewhere to get some games because sitting around just doing nothing apart from training week in, week out is no good to anyone.

"I never looked about going anywhere on a permanent deal, I like it here.

"I enjoy it here and I want to stay but it's no good for my career or Walsall if I had been sitting around for another two months.

"If this opportunity came up a bit later it wouldn't be any good because I'd be a lot rustier so it's lucky it's come around now before anything did have to happen."

Bevan moved from Villa in the summer in search of first-team football — something which has eluded him until now.

And it says much about a man who refused to be beaten after Walker's shock return four months ago.

"It's a bit of a downer when you see another goalkeeper come in because you know you're going to be knocked down a place but you have to make the best of it," he said.

"Jimmy has been around and has experience. You have to look at it and think 'what can I do that Jimmy's doing which will help me get in the team?'

"Sometimes it's frustrating when you think 'I deserve a shout' but you just have to keep your head down, train as hard as you can and wait for your chance.

"Sometimes it does come up, it takes a bit longer than expected but it does come round.

"With Chris (Hutchings) I did have a word and a couple of chats but at the end of the day it's always the manager's decision who they play.

"I didn't necessarily come round and knock on Dean's (Smith) door, I didn't want to be going in banging on doors.

"I left it to him and he's made a decision to give me a run and hopefully I've done enough to impress him."

And Bevan wants to make a lasting impression on the Saddlers faithful tomorrow after readily admitting they know nothing about him.

Aside from a pre-season friendly outing against Coventy and a handful of minutes in the reserves, the Banks's Stadium is a foreign place to him.

He said: "I don't pick myself so we'll wait and see, but I'd love a home debut because I've played two games away so I'm looking forward to being at home.

"The fans will be wondering what I'm like. A few people would have seen me so they'll have their opinions but I want to come and show everyone else what I can do.

"It's been a while coming but it's good to finally get in and show I can do it."

The Saddlers have the worst defence in League One — having shipped 44 goals — and have kept just three clean sheets this season.

A shutout would cap a fine week's work for Bevan and he knows the importance of keeping the Terriers' strikeforce quiet.

"You want clean sheets every week. Sometimes they don't happen but Saturday would be ideal for me to come in and keep a clean sheet. I haven't kept one yet so I'd like to keep one as soon as possible," he added.

"If we get a result it would be really good but a clean sheet would be even better."

Brain is likely to deputise for Bevan with Jimmy Walker having only just returned to training following a month out with a hamstring problem.

Richard Taundry is unlikely to feature after an ankle complaint while Darren Byfield's knee injury keeps him sidelined.

Huddersfield are without Damien Johnson (knee) and Gary Naismith (toe) while midfielder Graham Carey has returned to Celtic.