Tommy Simkin keen to "live in the moment" amid Walsall's promotion push

Simkin has grasped the challenge with both hands at his hometown club and has joined a growing collection of young goalkeepers to flourish at Bescot in recent years. 

Jackson Smith shone between the sticks last term while Neil Etheridge, Liam Roberts and Carl Rushworth progressed to a higher level after enjoying strong spells at the club. 

20-year-old Simkin has registered eight clean sheets in 18 appearances in League Two and is just one shy of AFC Wimbledon shot-stopper Owen Goodman (nine) in the race for the golden glove. 

The Stoke City loanee has exuded passion since his summer arrival and is eager to soak up as much experience and knowledge as possible during his Saddlers stay.

He said: "I spoke to Frank Fielding at Stoke. He's brilliant and has looked after me since I was 16 and he told me to just enjoy it because he'd do anything to be my age again. 

"So I just want to be in the moment and the gaffer says that all the time. Just be in the moment and just enjoy it because we're creating something really good and we need to keep it going. 

"I'm not going to do it on my own so I need people around me to help me. I'm still a baby in football really. 

"The people at Stoke help me and Nathan Lowe a lot. They're only a phone call away if I need their help. I've spoken to Jack Bonham, Frank Fielding and Viktor Johansson at Stoke and they've been a massive help." 

Walsall have developed a productive working relationship with Championship side Stoke during Mat Sadler's reign. 

Douglas James-Taylor joined on a permanent basis the summer before last following his loan spell under Michael Flynn and David Okagbue excelled on a season-long loan before penning a two-year deal in the summer. 

Simkin and Nathan Lowe have since followed the pair to Bescot with the latter netting a formidable total of 12 goals across all competitions this season. 

Lowe has been a sensation in Walsall colours and is just three goals shy of matching last season's top scorer Isaac Hutchinson's tally of 15 in all competitions. 

Okagbue has continued to play a key role for Walsall since his permanent return and James-Taylor has revived his first team ambitions with 13 goals in 20 games on loan at Drogheda.

And Simkin has enjoyed continuing his journey with his former and current Stoke colleagues at Walsall.

"We've got four of us. We all played in the play-off final together in the under-21s when Lowey was under-16, I was a first year scholar, David Okagbue was a second year scholar and Douglas (James-Taylor) was an under-21s," he revealed.

"So we know each other inside out. I've been playing with Lowey since we were 15. He's one of my best mates and I think our connection on the pitch has come out a couple of times this season which is what we do at Stoke."