Nicholls prepared to be patient

Nicholls scored six times for the Saddlers last season

Walsall striker Alex Nicholls says he is prepared to wait for a first team place after sitting on the bench for the first league game of the season.

The 21-year-old started and scored in the Carling Cup defeat at Accrington on Tuesday, but is expected to return to the bench for the visit of Southend.

Nicholls told BBC WM: "I did well in pre-season when I played up front.

"The manager knows I'll play anywhere to get a shirt. I really want to improve this year."

Manager Chris Hutchings elected for a strike pairing of Troy Deeney and new signing Sam Parkin against Brighton on the opening day of the season, and both impressed as the Saddlers won 1-0 at the Withdean Stadium.

"He went with Troy and Sam and that's fair enough. He's the manager and he gets paid to make those decisions," added Nicholls.

"It's down to me to get over the disappointment of that and try and kick on."

Used for the majority of his early career with Walsall as a midfielder, Nicholls proved to be a revelation in attack, providing the perfect partner for highly-rated Deeney.