Striker dilemma for Walsall boss Jon Whitney

Posted Thursday, February 22, 2018 by PA

Walsall boss Jon Whitney must decide between Amadou Bakayoko and Justin Shaibu in attack for the clash with Sky Bet League One leaders Blackburn.

Whitney brought Bakayoko in for Shaibu for last weekend’s clash with Gillingham but the Saddlers drew a blank, with Shaibu coming on for the final 20 minutes.

Goalkeeper Liam Roberts was the star performer against the Gills and there was good news for Walsall this week with the 23-year-old signing a deal until 2020.

The Saddlers go into the weekend in 16th place in the table and having collected eight points from their last four games.

Marcus Antonsson is pushing for a return to Blackburn’s starting line-up.

The striker returned to the squad ahead of schedule after seven weeks out with an ankle problem and impressed coming off the bench in Monday’s victory over Bury.

Defender Ryan Nyambe is in a similar position having been on the bench against the Shakers having taken a blow to the chest against Portsmouth last week.

Young defender Lewis Travis replaced Nyambe in the same game before being sent off and serves the second game of a three-match ban.