Grigg tipped to be a star for Saddlers

Boss Dean Smith today backed Will Grigg to rediscover his form and reassured the hitman he is the future of Walsall.

he striker struggled to make an impact last term – scoring just four goals – after he penned a two-and-a-half year deal in November.

Grigg netting his first goal for seven months in the final day 1-0 win at MK Dons which left the Saddlers 19^th in League One.

And Smith insisted he has faith in the former trainee but reminded him he will be judged on his strike-rate.

He said: "He knows as a centre-forward he will be judged on his goals and this year hasn't been one of his most prolific but I'm sure he'll come good.

"I spoke to him a few times but he's a kid who is still developing his game and he will get better and better as the years go by.

"Early in the season we weren't creating numbers of chances but when we did and it got away it weighed on people's minds.

"But he certainly puts in the effort in. Technically he's got better and when you watch him in training his finishing has got better. We've got young players in the squad who are leaning all the time."

A hamstring injury hampered the 20-year-old in the last weeks of the season before he returned for this month's finale.

And Smith admitted Grigg, who made his Saddlers debut in 2008, has endured a tough time.

"He was frustrated and I don't think he's used to being injured. He hasn't been injured often during his fledgling career and he wanted to come back as quickly as possible," said the boss.

"He's one of the future, George Bowerman and Jamie Paterson too. We've got a lot of young players who have come through the system and they've got good futures.

"It is a young team who have come through the system and they are learning all the time and getting better for it."