Comment: Taylor Allen's exit presents Walsall defender with prime opportunity

In the wake of Taylor Allen's devastating departure to Wycombe Wanderers, Evan Weir will be looking to become the next man to stake his claim. 

Allen himself got his big break when Donervon Daniels suffered an ankle injury in February 2024 and remarkably reinvented himself as a left centre-back to become the Saddlers' star man. 

The same can be said for the likes of Jackson Smith, Emmanuel Adegboyega, Jamie Jellis and Harry Williams in recent times too. 

Weir has had to bide his time since teaming up with the Saddlers during pre-season in 2023 and made significant strides in his debut campaign in the shadow of Allen. 

In the process, the Irishman was able to glean many a tip for the mastery of his left-sided centre-back position from Allen, who was an undisputed starter throughout his exceptional individual campaign. 

Amid limited game time, Weir was able to showcase his quality in glimpses; most notably during a New Year's Day comeback win at Notts County. 

His miraculous goal-line clearance, which saw him hook Alassana Jatta's goal bound effort away with his heal, was the standout moment of the game. 

However, he also had his finger prints over both goals; drilling a fierce ball across for Jamille Matt to bundle home, before crossing for Nathan Lowe to score the winner. 

It was a complete contrast to his previous league start, which saw him taken off at half-time during the Saddlers' 1-0 defeat at MK Dons in September 2024. 

In his cameos from the bench, Weir also set-up the first of Danny Johnson's point-rescuing double against Salford in February, before crossing for Levi Amantchi's third in a 3-1 success over Chesterfield just a fortnight later. 

The signs of promise are there, but the question that begs itself is whether Weir can produce consistently if given a lengthy run in the team? 

There are clearly areas to improve, perhaps none more so than his positional game. That was exposed when Michael Cheek's pass in behind caught him off-guard, as Harry McKirdy streaked through unmarked to lob Sam Hornby in a 2-2 draw at Bromley in March. 

But Sadler has praised his attitude time and time again, with Weir clearly fitting the mould of player which Walsall are looking to recruit. 

He is hard-working, industrious, unafraid to snap into tackles and has the technical ability to at least help fill the huge void left by Allen. 

Indeed, Weir has big boots to fill. Allen scored 11 goals and set-up eight more during a standout campaign last term, which inevitably prompted his exit to the league above. 

Allen deserves his chance to test himself at a higher level, and it's just unfortunate that he was unable to do so with Walsall. 

But a team is a living organism and Weir has a prime opportunity to become the heir to Allen's throne after a season of learning in the shadows.