Put your shirt on Amadou Bakayoko making a Walsall difference

But while Amadou Bakayoko is working hard to cement his place in Jon Whitney's starting XI, the forward is also determined to use his on field success for good.

The 20-year-old, who was born in Sierra Leone, has designed his own t-shirts in a bid to raise funds for Walsall based charity The Big Feed.

The project, which is backed by Walsall Community Church, aims to help homeless people throughout the region.

Bakayoko designed the t-shirts – which have the slogan 'live, love, laugh' – with his friends. And from Friday, they will be on sale in club shop at the Banks's Stadium, priced at £12 for adults and £10 for juniors.

All proceeds will then be given to the charity, with Bakayoko believing it's important footballers do what they can to support local causes.

"This all started with a phone call I had with my grandmother who still lives in Sierra Leone," the striker said.

"She was telling me about children over there who haven't got a lot and how important it is to help those less fortunate than yourself.

"She initially put the thought into my head that I need to start giving something back.

"So I made a group with my friends, we got together and decided to make a t-shirt.

"I then spoke to Walsall and it progressed from there. We are putting 100 t-shirts into the club shop and all the money will go to The Big Feed.

"Hopefully they will all sell and then we will put some more in there. I want everyone to come along and buy one."

The t-shirts have been made thanks to a partnership between Walsall Football Club and 'In Touch With Walsall' – an organisation which works to promote local business.

And Bakayoko admitted he is very grateful for their help.

"The club and In Touch With Walsall have been a massive help," he continued.

"It's great to see the t-shirts in the club shop and hopefully this will really take off and we can raise a lot of money.

"This is just the start. My friends and I are coming up with more fundraising ideas and hopefully they will help the homeless even more."

Bakayoko believes it's important he uses his status as a footballer for good.

"I think I am well grounded because of the people I have around me," he said.,

"I stick to the basics and try to do the right things. And I like to be in the good books. In the situation we are in as footballers, people look up to us, especially kids. It's important to show people a good example."

With the t-shirts going on sale on Friday, Bakayoko will be in the club shop between 4.30pm and 5.30pm to meet fans and sign autographs. But while other footballers have enjoyed success with clothing lines in the past, the forward says his t-shirts will only be sold to benefit good causes.

"I have a friend who wants to go into clothing but I'm not heavily into that," he said. "I would help him but I just want to do this for charity.

"All the players here have said they are going to buy one. We have also spoken about wearing them for a warm-up before a game. But the most important thing is to raise as much money as we can and help as many people as we can."