Youngster delighted with first taste of senior action...
SADDLERS winger, Kieron Morris, has expressed his delight after making his senior debut against Stoke City on Wednesday.The 19 year-old youth team product replaced Nicky Featherstone in the 86th minute at The Britannia Stadium and admitted that the experience has spurred him on to gain more first-team action in the near future.
"It was a great feeling to make my debut, at a fantastic Premier League stadium," he said. "I've had to wait for my moment and it's finally come and I'm absolutely delighted. I've got the buzz now to go out and break into the first team."
Morris has had to bide his time in making his Saddlers' debut. The second-year pro has seen fellow youth team-mates, Ben George and Mal Benning make the step up into the first-team and suggested that the Banks's Stadium is the ideal place for youngsters to learn their trade in the game.
"It's a great place to be," he added without hesitation. "There are plenty of experienced pro's here that I can learn from.
"The manager and staff are also great, the environment is fun to be around and in all I believe it's a great set up for youth players to push and break into the first-team."
The tricky left winger was sent out on loan to Worcester City last season, a move which helped him experience regular, competitive first-team football.
He returned to The Saddlers and impressed during pre-season and Morris says he wants to repay the faith that manager Dean Smith has shown since offering him a professional contract last season.
"My loan spell at Worcester was a great learning curve for me, the manager noticed and said I had come back hungry and more determined than ever to make it" he said with a smile. "Now the Gaffer has given me my debut, I'm feeling sharper and more confident in repaying him by breaking into the first-team.
"I will take it one step at a time, but I have the buzz now to come in every day work hard and do well for Walsall."