By Pete Oliver

Mooney was made Walsall captain last month

Veteran Walsall striker Tommy Mooney is leading by example in his bid to prolong the Saddlers' revival.

Mooney made Walsall the ninth club of his career when he moved to the Bescot Stadium in the summer.

Immediately installed as the club's senior professional, Mooney was then made captain by manager Richard Money last month in an effort to reverse a poor start to the season.

And following a winning start over Hartlepool back in his native north-east, Mooney has since overseen two further victories and a draw at table-topping Tranmere to lift Walsall into the top half of League One.

"I am proud to be captain," he told BBC Sport.

"I suppose I am the oldest and most experienced in the squad but my role has not really changed that much.

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"Perhaps on the pitch I have more of a role now but around the ground for the last couple of years I have taken it on myself to speak to and help the younger lads.

"That was one of the things the gaffer said when I came in, if I could pass on some of that experience, which is something I believe all senior pros would want to do."

Mooney is in a position where he can back up words with deeds with over 700 career appearances to his name.

The 36-year-old has also netted 199 goals and can claim to have scored in every division from the Premier down to League Two thanks to stays with, among others, Watford, Birmingham, Swindon, Wycombe and Scarborough.

He scored on his debut for Walsall and despite a month out with a calf injury has still managed three goals in seven games, including two in the last three.

I love matchdays and scoring goals is part of that. That's why I am still playing" Tommy Mooney

"When a striker goes to a new club the pressure is on to score goals and looking at my record it's not too bad," said Mooney.

"But I put pressure on myself to score goals anyway. That's why I love matchdays and scoring goals is part of that. That's why I am still playing."

Talk of goal number 200 is out of bounds until it happens but Mooney's strike-rate has never gone unnoticed among managers in the lower divisions since he left Birmingham via loan spells with Derby, Stoke and Sheffield United.

Swindon, Oxford and Wycombe all benefited from his ability to lead the forward line before a return to the Midlands materialised in July.

"I had two good years at Wycombe where we experienced everything bar promotion," Mooney added.

"But when it came clear at a late stage in the summer that I would be moving on I took a call from Richard Money.

"As well as moving up a division it's 20 minutes from home and I haven't been that close to work since I left Birmingham so it didn't take much mulling over."

Mooney had started his career under the guidance of Money as youth team manager at Aston Villa, although Money's overseas postings meant their paths had barely crossed since.

Money's return to English football brought Walsall the League Two title last season but their momentum stalled with a return of just two points from their opening five games.

Money brought Mooney to the Bescot in the summer

"We didn't get off to a good start and when you have been promoted the better start you have the easier it is," Mooney admitted.

"If you take me out of it we have a very young squad. There are some very good players, but not a lot of experience and I think that showed at the start."

Approaching the end of September Walsall were bottom of the table but with Money tweaking things on and off the pitch - including the appointment of the fit-again Mooney as skipper and ex-Burnley boss Jimmy Mullen to the coaching staff - results have been transformed.

"We are not getting carried away because we put ourselves in a difficult position in the first place," said Mooney.

"We are still playing catch-up. But a month ago we were bottom of the league so that shows how far we have come."

The end of Dwayne Mattis's loan spell with a broken leg is a blow but Mooney is encouraged by the form of young players like Scott Dann, Daniel Fox and Mark Bradley.

And apart from the obvious claims of Leeds and Nottingham Forest and the impressive form of Swansea, Mooney believes Walsall are equipped to continue their challenge.

"The aspirations are different now than perhaps they were a month ago," he said.