Chris Hutchings has told Josh O’Keefe he must improve if he is to force his way into Walsall’s starting XI.

The summer signing from Blackburn has made just one brief substitute appearance – at Tranmere – this season and has had to suffer on the bench.

He scored in the reserves’ 4-2 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday this week but boss Hutchings says he must up his game.

He said: “He’s getting there. Whether he gets a chance remains to be seen. It’s about how the midfield performs and how he performs.

“He is one for the future and is getting better. He scored in mid-week but he’s got a lot to learn.”

But Hutchings admits the 20-year-old has done well to adapt to a different style after being schooled at the Blackburn academy.

He said: “At Blackburn they play a different style. He was always given licence to get into the box at every opportunity.

“We don’t do that, you’ve got to pick and time your runs. It’s something he’s working on.”

And Hutchings insisted O’Keefe wasn’t the only player who is knocking on the first-team door.

He said: “Richard Taundry is back from injury and it’s a challenge for the younger boys, whether that’s Sam Adkins or Will Grigg.

“We’ve got a lot of players who are ready but they are not in the side.”