Will Grigg tipped for full internationals

Walsall manager Dean Smith today tipped Will Grigg for international honours but told the striker he must continue his rapid rise at the Banks's Stadium.

Smith expects the hitman to earn a senior call-up to the Northern Ireland squad if he fires in the goals at club level.

Grigg is now a regular for the under-21s and, with injury and selection issues draining his country's player pool, Smith expects him to be on boss Nigel Worthington's radar.

The Saddlers boss said: "They will all be aware of him and the under-21s manager will be telling Nigel as well.

"What he's got to do keep pushing himself as he has been doing and the chance will come for him. What he needs to do is keep doing what he's doing here and get recognition through that.

"Should he do that, then he's got a chance. He's got the quality. He's following on from where he left off last season."

Grigg played in the under-21s' 4-0 win over the Faroe Islands earlier this month and was handed the club's No 9 shirt this term, despite only making his full debut last November in the 1-0 FA Cup defeat at Torquay.

The 20-year-old scored his first of the season in last week's 3-2 defeat at Sheffield United, to add to the four he bagged during the Saddlers' Great Escape last term.