Jon Whitney tracking Walsall's summer transfer targets over international break

The Saddlers have been given a rest from League One action after Neil Etheridge, Andreas Makris and Simeon Jackson were called up by their national sides.

And Whitney revealed he will use the weekend to scout players he has identified to sign in the summer.

"This weekend gives me a chance to look at some players," the boss said.

"It will enable me to cross some people off the list and put some people on it.

"It's all right other people giving recommendations. But I need to see people with my own eyes.

"Neil (Cutler) will take a game in. John (Ward) will take a game in and there is a game on Sunday as well – Bradford at Scunthorpe. We will cover a lot of bases.

"I'm not going to tell you who we are looking at but I don't want to be in a position where I have to spend the entire summer recruiting."

At the end of last season, Whitney moved quickly to snap up his targets - with the boss keen to get players into the group as soon as possible.

And he is hoping to do the same again this year.

"We target players early and that is also why I am going to look at a few this weekend," he continued.

"We always need to have one eye on the future.

"We've got loan players in the squad now who we want to keep but we need to have players ready if they don't stay.

"But we are competing against teams that are bigger than us and who pay a lot more.

"But it's a great environment here.

"We might look at players like Ozzy (Isaiah Osbourne) and Flo (Cuvelier) who are looking to get their careers back on track.

"We will look at players who want to be part of a team that plays how we play – like (Erhun) Oztumer who had other offers.

"Joe (Edwards) came to us because of the club we are and the team ethos we have got.

"It's an enjoyable place to be. Let's see who is lucky enough to come in."