Former Villa, Bristol City, Millwall and Sunderland man Byfield returns to Walsall

Friday, August 28, 2009, 08:00

FORMER Saddlers striker Darren Byfield has come back to Bescot – and admitted he always knew he would return.

The 32-year-old is best remembered for scoring the winning goal in the Saddlers' League One play-off final victory over Reading at the Millennium Stadium back in 2001.

Byfield has signed a contract until the end of January 2010 with an extension option until the end of the season.

"I can't stop smiling," he admitted. "I'm really glad to back and I always knew that, one day, I'd return here. I just need to get games under my belt and then the Walsall fans will see the best of me."

Byfield started his career at Aston Villa, where he was highly-rated while coming through the ranks before signing a permanent deal with Walsall in the summer of 2000.

Making a total of 92 appearances for The Saddlers, during which time he scored some important goals for the club, he then moved on to Rotherham United in a £50,000 deal.

His lively performances for The Millers earned him a move to Sunderland but he failed to establish himself at the north-east club and joined Gillingham in readiness for the 2004/05 campaign.

Regaining his scoring touch with The Gills, he then served Millwall before joining Bristol City's quest to reach the Premier League.

Eight league goals from 17 starts for the Ashton Gate outfit followed before he was snapped up on a two-year deal by fellow Championship outfit, Doncaster Rovers in the summer of 2008.

It wasn't long before he was sent out on loan to Oldham Athletic – a deal that was later extended until January 2009 – and following his release by Rovers this summer, he returned to Boundary Park on a short-term basis before making his return to Walsall Football Club.

"We are delighted to have secured Darren's services," explained Saddlers' boss, Chris Hutchings. "He is a player that our supporters know all about and has a proven track record.

"He has scored goals wherever he has been and that is what we have brought him in to do here."




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