Danny Coogan fighting to earn Walsall contract

The 19-year-old was officially released by the Saddlers in May 2020 but was invited back to train with the team by then manager Darrell Clarke.

Current head coach Brian Dutton worked with Coogan when he played for the club's reserves and after the youngster travelled with the squad to Colchester last week, Dutton has confirmed Coogan has returned to train and has an 'opportunity to impress'.

"Danny Coogan is a player I rate and I really like, so he's back training with us," Dutton said.

"That's all there is at the moment. He's a talented young man and has an opportunity to impress. So he's back training with the group and we'll take it from there.

"Coogs is a right-back or centre-midfielder. He's a player that excelled when I was taking the reserves and he's potentially a player than can have a bright future.

"That will depend on how he performs in training between now and the end of the season."

Meanwhile, Dutton has identified a theme among the first team mentality that he is eager to change if he is given the job beyond this season.

He added: "There's a poor mentality running through the football club where we apologise for scoring a goal, that's got to change.

"Once you get one goal you have to go and get the second and third one to stamp your authority down in the game.

"We don't, we go into our shell a little bit. It's the wrong mentality and it needs to change.

"It will only change with time and getting the correct mentality in and around the building."