Walsall wide-boys impressing Jon Whitney

Goals from Erhun Oztumer and Tyler Roberts saw the Saddlers run out deserved 2-1 winners at the Kassam Stadium – with the victory the first on their travels this calendar year.

It was achieved after Whitney switched from his regular 3-5-2 formation to a 4-1-4-1 system.

And the boss revealed he opted to make the tactical change after being impressed with a host of players – including wingers Kieron Morris and Zeli Ismail - in the Checkatrade Trophy win over Albion.

“We experimented with Zeli and Kieron last Tuesday - there is a reason why we did that,” Whitney said.

“Liam Kinsella also played on Tuesday and came off the bench at Oxford. Reece Flanagan and Maz Kouyhar were amongst the substitutes.

“That is how we work – you get rewarded for your efforts.

“All we ask is that they take on board what we, as coaches, are saying.

"Sometimes there has been some constructive criticism from myself and my coaches to some players.

“But they have taken it on board, kept their heads up, worked hard in training and that is what they do – they put themselves in the mix.

“I wouldn’t have had a problem playing any of them.”

Morris, who has previously played on the right or in central midfield, started on the left in Oxfordshire with Ismail making his first league start on the right.

"We know we have got dangerous players with pace," Whitney continued.

"I thought Zeli, in the first half in particular, was outstanding at Oxford. I don't think their left back could live with him.

"Against Albion we wanted to see what Kieron could do on the left.

"I can see Kieron being a really effective left-winger and he is starting to come around to that now.

"It has taken time but you have got to be able to play in any position if you want to play. Joe Edwards is a prime example of that."