Isaac Hutchinson: Walsall hat-trick 'best day of life' for midfielder

Isaac Hutchinson (right) joined Walsall from Derby County in the summer of 2022

Walsall midfielder Isaac Hutchinson says the Saddlers must "move forward with confidence" after his hat-trick in the 4-1 home win over Gillingham.

It was the first treble of his career and first by any Saddlers player since Danny Johnson in July 2022.

It was also the first time have Walsall hit four in 15 months since Johnson's hat-trick helped beat Hartlepool 4-0.

"It's probably the best day of my life, unbelievable. It doesn't get much better," he told BBC WM Sport.

"If I'd scored three off my ear, my knee, I'm not bothered, I'm just buzzing that they went in, buzzing to help us win, that's the main thing."

Hutchinson's first two came from his left foot, but his 83rd-minute treble-clinching header was his favourite.

"I've never scored a header in my life," the 23-year-old said. "It's a bit of a thing that I'm not very good at heading it.

"I think I'm alright, especially in front of goal, but maybe not when it's dropping in the middle of the pitch from 100 metres in the air.

"Jamille Matt was going to knock it in but saw it was me and left it, so I've got to thank him for that."

The win was only Walsall's second in their last six games, of which they have lost three. They are now 13th in League Two ahead of Friday's trip to Newport County, four points away from the play-off places.

"Every player put a shift in, every player did their bit, I don't get a hat-trick without the 10 other players as well. It's a proper team effort," Hutchinson added.

"Our confidence should be sky high. We've set that level now and moving forward we can achieve that again, that should be the aim.

"If we can strive to hit that level of performance every week, we might not hit it but, even if we come close, we can beat a lot of teams."