Walsall boss Dean Smith backing his loan ranger Jordan Murphy
Walsall boss Dean Smith believes striker Jordan Murphy has returned to the Banks's Stadium a better player following his loan spell at non-league Worcester City.
And he says the 18-year-old, who arrived in September from Stourbridge, should now be making a concerted push for a place in his match-day squad.
Murphy was snapped up after impressing on trial but spent the last part of 2014 honing his skills with Worcester in the Conference North.
Smith said: "He has done really well at Worcester and probably played a little bit out of position on the left of the three but he did superbly.
"He has come on leaps and bounds. I think it is important Jordan spends a good month around us now and can push to try and get in to the first team squad. That has to be his target and that is what we are hoping he can do."
During his time at Aggborough, he played a part in Worcester's superb FA Cup run which saw them knock out League One Coventry before pushing fellow third tier outfit Scunthorpe to a replay and penalties.
Smith said: "Going out to Worcester has been brilliant for him, especially with the exposure they had in the Cup, playing Coventry and Scunthorpe twice on telly. It has been a great adventure for him but we just felt it was time for him to come back now.
"He has spent a lot of time with us during the week because even when they are on loan it can be haphazard – they spend a couple of nights with their loan team and a couple of nights with us.
"This gives us the chance to work with him and the only thing he won't have at the end of the week is a game unless he forces his way into the team here."
Smith added that playing against two sides in the same division as his parent club will have given him valuable experience.
