Eighteen years ago a young Tommy Mooney boasted a star mentor.

Now Walsall’s latest signing wants to have the same effect on the Saddlers’ youngsters that a future England captain had on him.

As a teenager at Aston Villa, Mooney was taken under the wing of a certain David Platt, who was destined to scale great heights in the game.

Mooney might not have led his country, but the 35-year-old has amassed plenty of knowledge over a decade and a half and he is keen that the game’s next generation should benefit.

“When I was at Aston Villa David Platt was my mentor and he showed me the ropes,” revealed Mooney, who became manager Richard Money’s third signing of the summer this week.

“He was very good to me and hopefully I can be as helpful to the young lads at Walsall.

“We were completely different players but the advice and help he game me at that time had a big influence on my approach to the game.

“He was a terrific person to talk to at that time, and it was all about the attitude he had to the game which rubbed off on me.”

Money already has high hopes that Mooney, who left Wycombe to make Walsall the 12th club of his professional career, can offer a crucial guiding hand to the young forwards at the Banks’s Stadium.

The manager believes that teenager Troy Deeney, who was given his second chance in the professional game by Money last year, can benefit particularly from the knowledge of Teeside-born Mooney.

And the player himself is looking forward to helping out, although he is not ready to conceded his place in the team to the new crop just yet.

“First and foremost I take it as a big compliment when a manager says that about me,” he said.

“I’ve done it before, and although I’ve come first and foremost to perform myself, but I’ve also come to help the young players and I’m looking forward to that.

“Hopefully I can help out those players that the manager has mentioned, especially people like Troy.

“If a few things can rub off from me onto the likes of Troy then I will be delighted.

“I want to help Troy and the other young players as much as I can, but in order to do that I first of all have to earn their respect by performing in training and out on the field.”