Merson Gets The Plaudits

Merson played his first full ninety minutes since returning from a rehabilitation clinic earlier this month and was head and shoulders above any other player on the pitch at Deepdale.

"I had a long chat with him prior to the game. He is getting himself and his life together," the Saddlers boss said after the 2-1 win.

"He has been on the edge of a desert for a month in almost isolation, with one phone call a day. He never really did a lot of training. He played 90 minutes today, thats his third appearance within a week and that takes some doing".

"When he has got that sort of vision of play there is not a better player in this league. He knows he can cause problems for opposing players, and teams are fearful of him."