Walsall defender Clayton McDonald has admitted he is keen on securing a permanent move to the Banks’s Stadium.

The on-loan Manchester City youngster is in the third and final month of his spell with the Saddlers, which expires after the trip to Millwall on December 12.

Ahead of tonight’s League One visit of Oldham, McDonald has revealed – while a transfer hasn’t been thrashed out – he could be tempted to stay.

The 20-year-old said: “It’ll be something I’ll be thinking about. It’s a long time to be here but I like the surroundings, the players and it’s going well at the moment.

“It’s better than wasting away at Manchester City. You are training with the first team there, but here you’re training to play and you’re ready to play.”

McDonald has previously spent time on-loan at Chesterfield and Macclesfield before arriving in September but believes his time at the Saddlers has been the most productive of his career.

He added: “I feel like I’ve become a better player. First-team football week-in, week-out against good teams helps. You come away thick skinned, you don’t care what people say and you get on with it.

“If it’s not going your way you roll your sleeves up and get stuck in. I’m mentally and physically stronger.”

The 20-year-old has been out of the team after injuring his groin at MK Dons in October and, since his recovery, the form of Manny Smith and Mark Hughes has kept him on the bench.

But despite his disappointment McDonald, who is set to be a substitute tonight with boss Chris Hutchings primed to name an unchanged line-up, doesn’t complain.

He said: “It’s frustrating because you love waking up on a Saturday and playing, but I have to get on with it. I’ve got no qualms about it, the lads are doing very well, especially Manny and Hughesy.”