Jon Whitney wants a summer head-start at Walsall

The Saddlers boss has taken the somewhat unorthodox approach of hosting a number of training sessions during the close season in order to ensure his players remain in peak condition.

Mandatory for the club’s under-23s, the training blocks have also been attended by a number of senior players including Amadou Bakayoko and James O’Connor. And Whitney believes players will feel the benefit once the entire squad returns for pre-season at the end of the month.

“The sessions are going really well and they’re beneficial,” he said. “It gives me a chance to get in touch with my staff as well so John Ward is in, Neil Cutler, Ian Sharps and (analyst) Calum Hayes too.

“We keep familiar with each other through the close season and it’s important for many aspects but mainly for the maintenance levels, so we don’t de-train too much.

“Hopefully when the season starts we can hit the ground running and get a head-start.

“The biggest and most important thing is you get reduced injuries. That’s key. If you complete a pre-season (without injury) then you’ve got a much better chance of having a better season as well as playing more games.”

Whitney has promised that every player will get the chance to impress during a condensed pre-season schedule, in which the Saddlers play eight games in the space of 19 days, including high-profile home fixtures against Albion and Villa.

“It’s key that we start the (younger lads) and get them used to our work ethic, and John Ward will play a big part in that by just chatting to them,” he said.

“There’ll be a chance for all my players to prove themselves. I’ll give them all a chance to try to get themselves into my reckoning. They will get opportunities and there will be enough minutes for them.”

Whitney’s hopes of signing Jason McCarthy, who impressed on loan from Southampton last season, have been dealt a blow after Championship club Barnsley reportedly agreed a £200,000 deal for the right-back with the south coast side.