Walsall boss Darrell Clarke was pleased to add young winger Jack Nolan to his squad and is looking forward to aiding his development.
The 18-year-old joined the Saddlers on a permanent deal on Thursday and has joined up with his new teammates ahead of Saturday’s game against Crawley Town.
Clarke was impressed by Nolan’s desire and while he admits the teenager isn’t yet the finished article, he is delighted to have a left-footed winger on board and has no doubts about his talent.
"He's someone I've monitored for a while,” said Clarke.
"He was an academy player at Portsmouth and Reading paid decent money for him.
"He had a bad injury last year but I've been to watch his last few games and he's sort of what I've been looking for.
"He’s not the finished article by any stretch of the imagination, so we have to be careful not to push him too early.
"But he has a great left foot, a great delivery.
"I'll be honest, there's not many about and I needed someone on that side of the pitch.
"Albeit he might not be quite ready to make a flying start, but he certainly improves the squad in that area of the pitch.
"He can go left or right.
"In the games I've watched him he's switched between both.
"Like I say, we're not getting the finished article there but we're getting somebody who I think can be a top-quality player.
"The biggest pull for me, when I met the lad and his parents, is that he wanted out of the 23's football into a first team environment.
"That is what we're after and what we want to keep building the club.
"He's a young lad, I'm sure our fans will get right behind him and will enjoy watching him play.”
The Saddlers take on Crawley at the Banks’s Stadium on Saturday afternoon, a side they have already met twice this season.
Both games finished 3-2, with Walsall winning the league encounter in Sussex back in September.
Clarke is expecting another competitive game against the Red Devils, a team who he rates highly.
"They're a very good team, they've impressed me this season,” Clarke commented.
"Another team where the manager lost his job and they went on a really bad run after a promising start.
"I thought they were one of the better teams we played in the early part of the season.
"Watching their last few games, I think they're back to it.
"It should be a good game."
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