Determined Liam Roberts: Walsall ready for Blackburn Rovers

Liam Roberts committed his long-term future to the Saddlers by signing a contract that keeps him at the Banks’s Stadium until the summer of 2020 earlier this week.

But the rise of the Walsall born shot-stopper has not been straightforward.

It was back in May 2014 that Roberts was released by the Saddlers.

The keeper had struggled to train for almost an entire year after contracting glandular fever.

Former manager Dean Smith, as well as ex-goalkeeping coach Neil Cutler, sat down with Roberts to tell him he was being let go.

Yet the duo knew they were releasing a shot-stopper with huge potential.

And just a few months later, after getting himself fit on his own, Roberts was brought back.

“I was devastated when I got released but I knew it was coming,” the 23-year-old said.

“Dean and Neil sat me down to tell me but I had barely trained. I was ill for around eight months. I’d come back for spells, get close to getting back to full fitness but then I’d get knocked back again.

“I got released but I was determined not to let it affect me. I knew what I wanted to be and where I wanted to go.

“I did a lot of work on my own to get myself fit. Then I got the phone call from Neil to say they wanted me to come back in. It was a huge achievement for me.

“I was fortunate enough to get that call and now here I am.”

Roberts is now set to be part of the Walsall side that hosts top of the table Blackburn tomorrow.

Jon Whitney’s side were beaten 3-1 by Rovers at Ewood Park just three weeks ago.

But while they arguably have the strongest squad in the division, Roberts says he and his team-mates are relishing the prospect of locking horns with the title favourites.

“They are top of the league but it’s a game of football we have to go and enjoy,” he continued.

“We want to upset them and we’re going to play with a smile on our face.

“They have got a great squad but I believe in our squad.

“We don’t fear them, we are looking forward to the challenge of testing ourselves against them.”

Walsall enter the game on the back of a four match unbeaten run.

And after keeping a clean sheet in their previous outing at Gillingham, Roberts says the squad is full of confidence.

“There is a real resilience about us,” he added.

“We are defending from the front and all the players know they have to perform because we’ve got real competition for places.”