Boss’ challenge to Walsall starlets
Thursday 28th April 2011, 9:30AM BST.
Walsall manager Dean Smith has thrown down the gauntlet to Jake Jones and Connor Deards after handing the youngsters professional deals.
The duo have been offered contracts for next season after impressing in the reserve and youth teams.
Striker Deards has hit 19 goals in 19 Youth Alliance starts and 24 in all competitions while winger Jones has grabbed 15.
And Smith, the club’s ex-head of youth, believes the pair are worthy of their new deals.
He said: “I am looking forward to see what they can offer to us. Both players have worked really hard and developed well over the past two years. They fully deserve to be awarded professional contracts.
“Jake is a wide left player who can beat players easily and has excellent ball control. He also has a good attitude, which will stand him in good stead.
“Connor is a natural finisher with great physical ability. He has been sharp in front of goal this season and has made good progress.”
Deards smashed four goals in the youth team’s opening day 7-0 rout of Stockport in August and also scored trebles in the 4-0 win over Shrewsbury in January and a 3-2 Midland Youth Cup victory at Port Vale.
Jones netted in Walsall’s 3-1 FA Youth Cup defeat at Millwall and, most recently, in the 2-2 with Wigan this month.
The pair could play in the youth team’s final fixture of the season on Saturday when the Saddlers host Accrington Stanley at Ray Hall Lane, Great Barr.
UK Sport
Latest Blog — A week is a long time in football
This time last week we were staring down the barrel, third from bottom with a worse record than at the same stage last year, writes Saddlers blogger Mark Jones.
Saddlers Blog
Business Awards
Book a Business Awards table
Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
