Ben Purkiss backing Walsall's new additions

Defender O'Connor and forward Bradshaw, together with young keeper Craig MacGillivray, are the first new faces to be signed up by boss Dean Smith this summer.

The manager is facing something of a rebuilding job having lost influential skipper Andy Butler, while Bradshaw is the first of several attacking players expected to arrive.

Right-back Purkiss believes the pain-staking research carried out by Smith and his staff means they invariably find the right men.

"What I would say about the staff here is that they do their due diligence," he said.

"They look at players' characters, they watch a lot of games and speak to people who know them.

"So I'd expect the signings to be major players if not in the new season then in the very near future.

"I'd expect them to play an important role. It might be too soon for the goalkeeper (MacGillivray) but the other two I'd expect to contribute and. if they're not, then I'd expect them to push the ones that are."

Experienced O'Connor, who made more than 200 appearances for Doncaster and spent the past three seasons in the Championship with Derby County, will be hoping to help fill the void left by the departure of Butler in a defence which was among League One's meanest last term.

It is hoped 21-year-old Bradshaw will add extra power to a forward line which often failed to fire.

Purkiss' initial impression of the new men is favourable.

"James has got good pedigree," he said. "He's been into the club a couple of times and I've seen him.

"He's a nice, genuine guy who looks fit and hopefully he can put any problems he's had with injury behind him.

"Tom Bradshaw has played a lot of games at a relatively young age.

"I don't particularly recall him from the games we played against him last season but I don't think he got a lot of help from his team-mates because they weren't great.

"We didn't necessarily have that depth in the forward positions last season so hopefully we can get a few more bodies in and really push."