Latics wanted me, reveals Marshall

WALSALL midfielder Paul Marshall was an Athletic target in the summer, the player has revealed.

The 21-year-old knew Paul Dickov when the pair were together at Manchester City and is set for a place on the bench for the Saddlers at the Bank's Stadium tonight.

Marshall revealed how he saw first-hand the fiery side of the passionate Athletic boss.

“I get on well with Paul and he wanted to take me to Oldham at the start of the season,” Marshall said.

“At City he would join in the sessions and played a few reserve games. I like him a lot.

“He had just got the job and he had a lot of players he couldn’t afford to get rid of.

“The club couldn’t just pay them off, so he said ‘listen, I can offer you a contract, but I’m not sure what the contract will be’.

“Obviously Walsall offered me a deal and I needed some security, so it wasn’t a hard choice to make.

“He’s a nutter. In training at Manchester City we’d do little circles when we were warming up, he’d always try two-foot tackles on everyone and take you out.

“He played in a reserve game for us against Blackburn and one of their lads said to him ‘I heard you’re hard, but I’m harder’ – the guy went off with a broken nose 10 minutes later.

“I knew he was going to get his team playing, that’s the kind of guy he is.

"He believes in fitness and doing a lot of running, which he hopes will give them a better chance.

“I’ve seen a few interviews where he’s admitted he isn’t a great player, but what he used to do was work his backside off and defend from the front.

“That’s what he’s got his team doing and that’s why they’re doing well.”