Walsall's Levi Rowley loaned to Stafford

The Saddlers starlet, who has yet to make his competitive first-team debut for the club, has linked up with his hometown club for a month.

The Stafford-born teenager, 18, signed his first professional contract in the summer, but has been allowed to continue his education at Marston Road.

Rangers have gone a whopping 18 points clear at the top of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Division One South and look destined for promotion.

Rowley could make his debut either in the Staffordshire Senior Cup at home to Hednesford Town tomorrow or when Kidsgrove are the visitors in the league on Saturday.

He said: "The aim is to go out and impress. If I can go and get myself into the team, play well and get among the goals, then the loan will have done its job.

"It'll be good to see how I cope with men's football and how my development goes from here. You've got to experience game scenarios.

"It's all well and good doing it in training and in the reserves, but you have to do it against proper opposition.

"I've been training hard all week, but there's nothing to work towards when you're not getting in the side. Now I'm going out on loan, there's a carrot at the end of the week for me to work towards."

Rowley is up for the muck and nettles of the challenge, too, and expects to toughen up as a player through experiences further down the pyramid.

He said: "I'm a ball carrier, so I've got to expect getting kicked around a bit. It makes it easier when you go into games expecting those sorts of challenges.

"There are some good teams in non-league who play a good brand of football, so I don't think it's going to be a problem. I'm confident I can get on with the lads there and, hopefully, hit the ground running.

"I've got the benefit of still being here (at Walsall) during the week and training hard but then I can hopefully get some game time with Stafford as well.

"I'm approaching it with an open mind, but I just want to play well. Hopefully, I can bag some goals as well but I need to concentrate on my performances, first and foremost."

Rowley is the fourth Walsall player to be loaned out this month. James Baxendale has been borrowed by League Two side Mansfield Town, while Jordan Murphy and Amadou Bakayoko have joined Worcester City.