Walsall Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of goalkeeper Jackson Smith from Wolverhampton Wanderers on a loan deal until the end of the season.
The 21-year-old has progressed through the Wolves Academy since joining at the age of eight and was a regular in both their Under 18s and Under 23s sides.
Last summer, he joined the first team on their pre-season tour of Spain and Portugal and played against Levante, Besiktas and Farense and impressed then manager Bruno Lage to select him to back up Jose Sa and Matija Sarkic for the season.
He has experience of men’s football under his belt as well, having had loan spells at Frickley Athletic and Kettering Town, where he kept 12 clean sheets in 31 matches.
Smith is now looking forward to his new challenge with the Saddlers.
“It is brilliant to be here,” Smith said.
“The group of flying at the moment and hopefully I can come in and add to that. It is a brilliant club and I am really excited to kick on here.
“I have spoken to Watto (Dan Watson) several times already before getting things over the line here so I know how great of a guy he is already. Coming in and working with Owen and George is brilliant.
"I can see the standard already and how high it is already. Hopefully I can come in and add to that and if not, kind of push it further up.
“Every time you go back from a loan spell you want to go back to your parent club better than when you left it and hopefully I can come here and leave a better player than when I arrived.”
Head Coach Michael Flynn is pleased to strengthen the goalkeeping department.
“I am really pleased to add Jackson to the group,” Flynn said.
“From the conversations I have had with Dan Watson, he is looking forward to working with Jackson and helping him develop as a goalkeeper.
“Jackson has come in to push Owen and provide him with some much-needed competition. We want to help develop Jackson and hopefully we can do that.”