Walsall loanees - Keep or send back?
Joseph Masi gives his take on Walsall's four loanees and debates whether the Saddlers should keep them at the Banks's with January approaching.
1 Tyler Roberts – KEEP
The young Albion striker has been an absolute revelation. His close control and ability to ghost past players is rarely seen in League One.
But that has promoted interest from a host of clubs. Arsenal, Wolves, Swansea and Sunderland have all been linked with a move for the 18-year-old.
They have been joined by French outfit Marseille. He’s scored five goals in 17 appearances but all of those goals have come in League One.
Out of contract in the summer, it’s likely new Baggies boss Alan Pardew will want to have a close look at him.
If they can, Walsall should do everything they can to keep him until the end of the season. But he could end up going out on loan to a Championship club.
2 Daniel Agyei – KEEP
Like Roberts, the Burnley loanee has netted five goals for the Saddlers.
He has largely featured from the bench recently. As with many young players, Agyei’s performances have tended to fluctuate between the very good or the very quiet.
But the 20-year-old is certainly a natural finisher and has proven with his loan at Coventry last year he can score regularly at this level.
He’d be good to keep anyway, but especially so if Walsall were to lose Roberts.
3 Zeli Ismail – KEEP
On loan from Bury, the winger initially struggled to get into the team. He can trick his way past players and get to the byline with ease. But his final ball often lets him down.
That has changed over the past few weeks and he is now absolutely integral to the side. Whitney has switched to a 4-5-1 formation which allows him to play Ismail, Oztumer and Roberts.
They are the three most dangerous players in the squad and if they all play well you’d back them to beat anyone.
But Bury have got a new manager in Chris Lucketti so maybe he’ll want to run the rule over him.
4 Shaun Donnellan – SEND BACK
The Albion loan man has impressed at times but looked shaky at other times. He looks like a player who will be a very good League One defender in the future.
But he is currently behind James Wilson, Jon Guthrie and Kory Roberts.
Whitney will probably want four centre-backs to cover for injury. But it’s unlikely Albion will want a loan player being fourth choice and just sitting on the bench.
