Keates, who has seen his side lose just two of their twelve league games, believes it is important for the players to be able to have a mental break from the game, especially after such a frantic start to the season - during which the Saddlers defied the critics and rose towards the top of the table.
Speaking via the Express & Star, Dean said; "Ideally I’d have liked to have played but it is what it is. The break has been good for us as a football club. We had a few players carrying knocks and its given us the chance to let one or two things settle down.
"And on the mental side of things, we have pushed the players a lot and asked a lot of them. It’s a young squad. There are a few players that have come from non-league so it was an opportunity for a few of them to have a breather, a break and take stock of everything.
"And the players that have moved to the area to be close to the football club, it’s given them a chance to go back home and see their families. It’s important sometimes you have that mental break away form football."