Rising star Amadou Bakayoko keeps Walsall feet on ground

The 20-year-old netted his sixth goal of the campaign on Tuesday as the Saddlers secured a 1-0 victory at Leicester in the Checkatrade Trophy.

That strike came just 24 hours after the Sierra Leone-born forward committed his long-term future to the club by penning a new deal.

But while fans are purring at the impact Bakayoko is making on Jon Whitney's squad, the player himself is taking things one game at a time.

"It's far too early to get carried away," he said.

"Things have been going well so far but the important thing is to keep going.

"I was delighted to get a new contract. It has given a me a real boost and now I'm determined to kick on.

"I'm feeling confident. It's not arrogance. Some people can take it the wrong way, especially from a young player. But I'm going to do everything I can to reach the standard I believe I am capable of."

Having joined the Saddlers back in 2014, Bakayoko got a taste of first-team football last season following loan spells at AFC Telford United and Worcester City.

But he returned to the Banks's Stadium determined to make his mark, and has thanked Whitney for the faith the manager has shown in him.

"Jon has been really good for me," the striker continued.

"He has helped me massively, he has given me added belief and given me a chance.

"You can always talk to him, about football and personal stuff as well and he will understand.

"You're always comfortable with him and that goes for Dean Holden and Neil Cutler as well.

"Everyone is together and it makes you feel good around the place. I'm delighted with how everything is going so far."

One competition in which Bakayoko has particularly shone this season is the Checkatrade Trophy with the forward having netted five goals in his three appearances.

They include a hat-trick on his full Saddlers debut against Grimsby back in August, as well as strikes against Sheffield United and Leicester.

And after crashing out of the FA Cup to non-league Macclesfield on Saturday, Bakayoko was delighted to bounce back by securing a victory over the Foxes which saw them win Northern Group H.

"I thought it was a really good performance and a very good response following the defeat to Macclesfield," he said.

"The whole squad worked hard.

"The gaffer rotated the squad a little bit and I think everyone who was given a chance took it.

"As a team we backed each other up and we looked a really solid, cohesive unit."

Bakayoko felt the win at the King Power Stadium was the result of a lot of hard work on the training field.

"On the training ground, everyone is now on board with what we are doing," he added.

"We are taking that on and we have shown that, as a group, we stick together.

"Everyone is determined to work as hard as they can for the team. It's a great group to be a part of."