Danny Guthrie likes what he sees in Walsall's Alfie Bates
Danny Guthrie has backed young Walsall ace Alfie Bates to handle any extra responsibility thrown his way this season.
The 19-year-old midfielder enjoyed a breakthrough campaign last term making 21 appearances in all competitions and Guthrie has tipped him to play an even bigger role this time around, during what promises to be a hectic campaign.
At 33, Guthrie is one of the more experienced heads in Darrell Clarke’s Saddlers squad and expects to be sharing playing time in the middle of the park with the likes of Bates and Liam Kinsella.
He said: “We’ve got good options in there. Alfie’s (had) another season now, I think he did great last year – it’s a big season for him, he’ll play more I’m sure of it.
“Through the whole course of the season there’ll be different scenarios. Last season we went through periods where we didn’t win for three or four weeks, and it’s tough to ask young lads to carry a team at that point. You need the older lads then, [but] if you need someone to take three games a week then Alfie or Kins, that’s no problem for them.”
Walsall are, meanwhile, asking supporters to send messages of support to the team ahead of the season.
The Saddlers will restart at the Banks’s behind closed doors but the club still want fans to have a presence and will compile a video montage of messages to be played on the big screen before kick-off.
Fans should send a short video message of no more than 20 seconds to tom.heslop@walsallfc.co.uk
