Young Saddlers will shine, says James O'Connor
James O'Connor today tipped Walsall's young guns to shine this season – after admitting he has been surprised by their quality.
The 29-year-old defender, who joined the Saddlers on a one year-deal last month, has been impressed the strength of the squad and says he was taken aback by just how good their youngest players are.
O'Connor believes the likes of Reece Flanagan and Jake Heath – who are both aged 19 – may have a big part to play in the upcoming League One campaign, which gets under way with a trip to local rivals Port Vale on Saturday, August 9.
"When you talk about the squad here and ask if I was impressed, then yes I was," he said.
"I was actually quite surprised by the quality of the young lads here, they are in a position where they are in a fantastic opportunity to step up and so far in training they have been giving it their all.
"Players like Reece, Jake and a few others have really impressed me and I think they will be pushing to be involved from the start."
O'Connor and the rest of the squad have spent the past week in Devon on a pre-season training camp.
"It's been really enjoyable," added O'Connor.
"It's been tough work at times with a lot of it mental, there have been some long days.
"But it's been good to get to know the lads a bit better. It's been a good mix of fun and hard work."
