Artell: Grimsby Town 'Heading in the Right Direction'

Grimsby Town manager David Artell says his team is 'heading in the right direction' ahead of their away trip to Walsall. The Mariners are looking to build on their opening-day victory over Exeter City. With the new season underway and the transfer window entering its final couple of weeks, Artell believes the Mariners are continuing to move forward.

Squad Progress

With the new season underway and the transfer window entering its final couple of weeks, Artell believes the Mariners are continuing to move forward. "We've got to be satisfied when the 11 o'clock comes on the 1st September," he said. "And we're heading in the right direction. I think that's the best way to describe it. We're working extremely hard behind the scenes. It's been a really difficult and tough summer with the workload, but we have to do it and we get on with it."

Strength of the Squad

The Head Coach is pleased with the competition currently available within his group, with Joe Foulkes providing further depth in the defensive areas. "Yeah, there'd be a big problem if I said no," he joked. "Joe Foulkes is a terrific player. We've got a bit more, a lot more in fact, strength behind Harvey."

Week of Training

Artell was pleased with the attitude shown by his players throughout the week, with the focus firmly on making the most of every training session. "We're still in that phase where plenty of the new lads are still getting used to us," he said. "We're still in the normal, 'come on lads, skill acquisition', whether that's a Kieran Green and Harvey Rodgers or an Elliot Smith. It's picking up things, learning things, getting better at things, and the lads have had a good week."

Injuries and Returns

Artell confirmed that the injured quartet are making progress, although he was unwilling to put firm timescales on their returns. "They're getting better," he said. "I have seen Doug outside. I've seen Cam Gardner outside. I've seen Reece outside. I know they're still not close to coming in with the group, but I've seen them outside doing early-stage, end-stage rehab."

Challenge of Walsall

Town face a different Walsall side to the one they encountered last season, with Artell expecting a more varied approach from the hosts under their new management team. "A different Walsall," he said. "Lee's got them playing more football, more of a mixture. They were very direct last year and running. They can still be direct into pressing, but they'll also play more football, so they've got a real nice blend."

Travelling Support

The Mariners are expected to be backed by more than 1,000 supporters at the Bescot Stadium, with Artell once again praising the Club's travelling support. "The fans, the away fans are outstanding," he said. "It's not exactly around the corner, with it being an early kick-off. I presume it's an early start, whether it's a coach or a train, whatever. We're really grateful because it does make a difference."

Current Form

Grimsby Town are currently 8th in League Two, with 4 points from 2 games, and a recent form of DW. They have scored 1 goal and conceded 0 this season, giving them a goal difference of +1. They are 2 points behind leaders Barnet in the title race.

You can watch David Artell's full pre-match interview here: David Artell is sponsored by DH Tuck Accountants.

Image Prompt

A photorealistic image of an anonymous Grimsby Town player in a red and white striped shirt, with a white collar and sleeves, and a pair of white shorts, with a black and white striped sock. The player is in a focused expression, with a shallow depth of field and a floodlight rim light. The image is shot with an 85mm f/1.4 lens, with a sharp focus on the player's eyes. The player is standing in a dimly lit training room, with a whiteboard in the background, and a few footballs scattered around the room. The image should be taken from a 45-degree angle, with the player's face filling the frame, and the background thrown out of focus.