Liam Gordon: Walsall defender confident club can do good things under Mat Sadler

Liam Gordon has won 11 caps for Guyana

Walsall defender Liam Gordon says the squad believes they can do something special under Mat Sadler and has "faith" in the Saddlers' head coach.

The Saddlers patchy recent form in League Two has seen them go four games without a win in 20th place.

But they are as close to the play-off places as they are to the relegation zone, being seven points off each.

"We have got a very young squad, and it's the gaffer's first job - it's about patience," Gordon said.

Former Walsall, Birmingham City and Shrewsbury Town left-back Sadler permanently replaced Michael Flynn at the Poundland Stadium in the summer, having overseen the last few games of last term.

Although wins have been hard to come by - only five in the league from 17 games so far - Gordon is convinced the club is on the right track.

"We have faith in the gaffer and the coaching staff - people don't see what he does for us on the training pitch," he told BBC Radio WM.

"People may go away [from games] and think we are not doing enough in a reflection of the game, but I have all my faith and belief in what they want for the season and for us.

"It's frustrating when we lose and the fans want to see us do well - and rightly so - but we want them to stick with us through this tough path we're on at the moment.

"We've got to stick together, and we will do something; we have a great squad."

Full-back Gordon says he is "loving" his time with Walsall and says he is benefitting from having a full pre-season this year, having been injured at the start of last term and missing the first couple of months of that campaign.

"You're not able to hit the ground running and gel with the team," he said, reflecting on his difficulties a year ago, but said this time around it had been "non-stop" for him and was exactly "what I needed".

"Hopefully I'm showing the Walsall fans I can be something they expected, and long may that continue. I do believe we can build something good this season," he said.

Sadler respects Gordon's commitment to Guyana

Mat Sadler ended his playing career with Walsall and spent three years on the coaching staff before getting the head coach's job

Walsall's League Two game at Doncaster on Saturday has been postponed as part of the international break as Gordon is one of three players away representing their countries.

While Gordon is playing for Guyana against the Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda, Donervon Daniels and Brandon Comley are in the Monserrat squad for matches against the Dominican Republic and Barbados.

And he says his international commitments are always celebrated and supported by Sadler and his team.

"I'm proud to represent my country. I get respect from the gaffer that I am going away," Gordon said.

"I've had conversations [in the past] that if I were going away with Wales or Ireland, then there'd be more respect, but because we were such a small country, there wasn't.

"The gaffer has given me that, and all the staff have believed in me, and it's an honour for me and my family.

"We've got a good balance of people playing locally in Guyana, England, Canada and America.

"We've got a lot of talented players, and it's my dream that some of them come over here to play.

"Don was born in Monserrat and Com's family is also from there, so it's a great opportunity for them to represent their countries. I'm sure their families are as proud of them as mine is of me representing Guyana."