Walsall's Interim Head Coach Jon Whitney has spoken to the local press ahead of Thursday evening's Play-Off Semi Final Second Leg clash with Barnsley, and has called upon his team to 'stand up and be counted' as they take part in an all-important pre-match training session.
Speaking via the Walsall Advertiser, Jon said; "After today's training I will know who is ready to play. There are things going to be set up today and it will be 'this is it now, you stand up and be counted'. No hiding.
"You've got to approach today as if it's Barnsley on Thursday. If you're going to pull out of tackles today, you are going to pull out of them on Thursday. If you're not closing people down today, you're not going to close people down on Thursday.
"If you want to play in my team on Thursday and give yourself some pride back and finish your season on a high, you've got to do it today because you won't get another chance.
"It is a really important day for me and my coaches. I want to see players motivating their teammates because what an opportunity this is that we've got to make history."
"You've got to approach today as if it's Barnsley on Thursday. If you're going to pull out of tackles today, you are going to pull out of them on Thursday. If you're not closing people down today, you're not going to close people down on Thursday.
"If you want to play in my team on Thursday and give yourself some pride back and finish your season on a high, you've got to do it today because you won't get another chance.
"It is a really important day for me and my coaches. I want to see players motivating their teammates because what an opportunity this is that we've got to make history."
SOURCE | WALSALL ADVERTISER