Walsall line up deal for striker Connor Taylor

Walsall were today set to announce the signing of former Aston Villa academy striker Connor Taylor.

The 18-year-old is believed to have penned a one-year deal at the Banks's Stadium following the capture of Febian Brandy last week.

Taylor joined Villa on a two-year scholarship after joining from Coventry Sphinx in 2010. But he found his chances of breaking through limited and was released at the end of last season.

Connor played the second half of Saturday's 3-0 friendly defeat to Wolves and is the latest to sign for Dean Smith as the Saddlers chief continues to shape his squad.

Smith admitted it was D-Day after the game at the weekend as he was set to decide on several trialists in addition to Taylor.

Ex-Albion and Doncaster midfielder James Chambers, Peter Gilbert, Nicky Featherstone, Ben Purkiss and James Baxendale were all due to hear their fate.

Chambers was at Albion with Walsall twin Adam, Gilbert is a former Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester left-back who played at Southend last season, Featherstone was at Hull and Baxendale is ex-Doncaster.

Featherstone and Baxendale played for Saddlers assistant Richard O'Kelly at Hereford last season.

Smith said: "Most of the players have been with us for three weeks so they know what we're about and what's expected of them. We'll have a chat with them and see where we go from here.

"The pleasing thing was the style of football we played in the first half."