Walsall taking another look at trialist

A host of Saddlers players reported to the club’s Essington training base last Tuesday and Wednesday to help maintain their fitness levels over the close season.

The sessions were primarily for players aged 23 and under. But Whitney was also able to use them to assess three trialists that had come onto his radar. And the boss revealed one impressed enough to be invited back when full training resumes next month.

“We had three trialists in and one of them is coming back for pre-season,” the boss said.

“The other two I am not going to carry forward.

“It was a good chance to have a look and rule them out. But one will come back in pre-season because we want to have a look at him for a little longer.

“He did well. His work ethic and his quality impressed us. He kept with the tempo of my young group and they train at a real high tempo.

“He stood out and impressed us enough to have him back for a another look.”

Whitney said last week’s training block gave him and his coaches the opportunity to work closely with some of the Saddlers younger players.

And the boss was also pleased the sessions enabled the squad to get to know former defender Mark Bradley – who was added to Whitney’s backroom staff earlier this month.

“We had over 20 young players in each day,” the manager continued.

“It was mostly our under-23s but we had a few second year scholars in as well as some of the first year scholars.

“It was a really good opportunity for me to have a look at some of our younger players.

"There was me, (coaches) John Ward, Neil Cutler and Ian Sharps taking some of the coaching with Mark Bradley and (physio) Marc Czuczman doing some gym mark.

“It was really good for Mark to get to know the players.

“And also to start getting some work into them into the close season.”