Dean Keates: Chris Dunn can make Liam Roberts a better Walsall goalkeeper

Dunn put pen to paper on a one-year deal at the Banks’s Stadium yesterday after leaving former club Wrexham – where he impressed under Keates last season.

The keeper, who has previously had spells with Northampton, Coventry, Yeovil and Cambridge, will start the campaign as back-up to Walsall-born Roberts. But Keates believes his number one will be able to learn a lot from Dunn who has played more than 150 games in the Football League.

“Robbo (Roberts) knows how I feel about him and how the football club feels about him,” the boss said.

“I hold him in high regard, he was outstanding last season.

“He is one of the main reasons we kept our League One status.

“He can only take confidence from the way he performed last season. But Dunny will come in and help him.

“We have also added (coach) Michael Oakes as well. They will both help Robbo because they are both vastly experienced.

“Robbo has got the opportunity now to mature, play games and push himself to be number one for his home-town club.

“And Dunny will come in and help him but also push him really hard.”

But while the keeper was only unveiled as a Walsall player yesterday, the boss revealed the deal to sign the 30-year-old was agreed a number of weeks ago.

“I know Dunny well, he is experienced and he will bring something to the changing room,” Keates added.

“He is a big lad at six-foot-five. And he kept a lot of clean sheets in the last 18 months I worked with him.

“I’m delighted to get him. It’s something that has been done for about three weeks.

“It was a case of getting everything finalised with Gilly’s (Mark Gillespie) move to Motherwell.

“I was looking at my options and I knew Dunny was available.

“I know how he conducts himself and how he operates.

“He comes into the squad and makes it very competitive for the number one jersey.”