Walsall defender Stan Straw got his first taste of competitive football for many months as he was named amongst the starters for Walsall Under-18s as they took on Rotherham United on Saturday morning.Straw, who signed his first professional contract back in March, suffered an injury during the latter stages of the 2025/26 campaign, and hadn't featured in any of the Saddlers' pre-season or early campaign games.
However, following extensive rehabilitation, he has finally been able to secure some match minutes, as he played for the first-half of the young Saddlers' 3-1 victory over the Millers.
Replaced by Josh Jarman at half-time, Straw has started another important phase of his return and will no doubt be delighted to have taken such an important step on the road to a return to action.