Dean Keates thrilled with hungry Walsall strikeforce

The Saddlers manager bolstered his forward options by signing Andy Cook and Morgan Ferrier ahead of the opening day clash with Plymouth.

He then added Josh Gordon last week after agreeing a fee with Leicester. Cook and Ferrier have been integral to Walsall making an unbeaten start to the season.

Both have netted once in their three outings although they could have scored more after regularly taking up dangerous positions.

Keates though is happy with the impact his new-look front line is making, with youngsters Mitch Candlin and Dylan Parker also waiting in the wings.

“They are players that keep going, they have a rawness and a desire that I want from my players,” said the boss.

“It’s still early days but with Morgs and Cookie you can see signs of a partnership growing.

“Morgan only turned up on the Friday before the Plymouth game. It was straight in at the deep end. They are hungry and Josh Gordon is exactly the same. He has had a short period in the under-23s at Leicester. But before he went there, he came through men’s football. He will have that know-how of being in the box and what you need to do to score goals. I have got three forwards who are all desperate to force their way into the team.

“And I have got a couple of young lads backing them up who want to be part of it as well.”

Keates said that desire to score is epitomised by Cook who was disappointed not to find the target in the Carabo Cup win at Tranmere on Tuesday.

“Knowing Cookie as a person, he was happy with the result but disappointed on a personal note,” the boss continued.

“He wants to score goals. But I want that, I want him to have that disappointment.

“He will keep arriving in those areas. He won’t shy from it.

“He will keep getting into those goal scoring positions and one will fall for him soon.”