Boxing Day football is a long standing tradition, and a game that many fans look for when the fixtures are released.
However this year, Walsall will not have a game on Boxing Day, as Northampton Town have a Covid outbreak at the club.
The game against Bradford is also in doubt, with the Bantams announcing that due to Covid cases within their club, their Boxing Day game has been called off too.
It is likely that Walsall will not be playing again until the New Year, and however disappointing this will be to fans, there are some benefits to a period away from the pitch.
Player fitness
First and foremost, the festive period can be tough for clubs because of the high number of games in a short amount of time.
This is likely to now be pushed to later in the season, rather than avoided, but this actually plays well into the Saddlers hands.
Holden, Wilkinson, Labadie and others are on the treatment table, and having a three week gap between Colchester and the next fixture – whatever that may be – allows time for them to get back to match fitness.
Wilkinson has been in and out of the side all season with injuries, and this break will be welcome for him to get back to full fitness.
Holden is the one that fans are eagerly awaiting the return of, and knowing he is slowly getting back to fitness is exciting.
With the Swindon match now taking place in February, and Northampton probably a similar time frame, it means Holden may well be in a position to start those games, a much needed boost,
Obviously there will be fixture congestion, but if Walsall can have players back in the mix will allow for ample rotation.
Matt Taylor can coach his tactics
Taylor has a set system and style that he is trying to implement into the side alongside getting them up the league.
A few weeks on the training ground will be good for Taylor as he drills the players and gets them more familiar with what he wants from them.
With matches week in week out, sometimes players don’t have much time on the training ground to focus on drills.
Also, with the players coming back from injury, it will allow Taylor to have a full team training with him too, perhaps for the first time in a few months.
Keeping a focus on the league
With the fixtures piling up early in 2022, and the teams above Walsall all struggling for form, it provides a chance to potentially push up the table, whilst they have games in hand.
With Walsall out of all cup competitions, it also means that the fixture congestion will not be as heavy as others who have other matches outside of the league.
With January looking a tough month for Walsall, a break now will keep them fresh for the matches to come, as they look to solidify the place in the top half.
Featured Image: Reuters
