Walsall are hopeful of fending off interest from Premier League clubs to keep 16-year-old starlet Sean Geddes at the Banks’s.

The highly-rated midfielder is believed to have been offered a two-year apprenticeship plus one-year professional deal by Walsall and the club are hopeful that he will choose to stay with them to continue his development. 

Geddes has just returned from a trial with Bolton Wanderers, after similar spells with Albion and Blues and Saddlers are currently bracing themselves for a compensation offer from the Trotters between £10,000 and £80,000. 

Meanwhile, another of Walsall’s promising youngsters has been awarded a professional contract.

Seventeen-year-old striker Josh Craddock, who made his Saddlers debut on the final day of the season,  joins fellow youngsters Richard Davies and Hassan Bacchus in signing pro deals.

The Wolverhampton-born youngster bagged 12 goals in just 16 starts during last season’s Championship-winning campaign for the youth team.

Mark Bradley was an unused substitute for Wales Under-21s in their 2-0 defeat to England last night.