Mitch Candlin to realise potential at Walsall

The striker, who was born in Stafford, committed his long-term future to the Saddlers on Monday after agreeing terms on a three-year-deal.

Candlin made his debut for Jon Whitney’s side at Bradford last season when he was just 16-years-old.

Since then he has gone on to feature six times for the club before signing his first professional contract this week.

And the forward revealed he has been receiving advice from Walsall’s senior players, as well as boss Whitney, ever since he stepped into the first-team fold.

“The senior players have been great with me.” Candlin said.

“There’s some good players here so I can learn a lot.

“They’ve been helping me with my body shape and stuff, telling me what runs to make.

"That’s making me a better player and I’m starting to use that advice.

“The manager has also been great. He wants me to be alert in the box and get goals.

"I feel like if I keep working, hopefully, I should be good enough.

"Three years is a long time so hopefully I can develop as quickly as I am at the minute.”

Candlin said he still looks back fondly on the day he made his Walsall debut.

And the 17-year-old is now determined to net his first goal for the club - to help repay the support Saddlers fans have given him.

“Bradford was a perfect place for me to make my debut.” the striker continued.

“It was great to play in front of all those fans.

“I thought I had some good touches on the ball. It was an unreal feeling.

“It was difficult - the defenders are big and strong so it’s challenging to win your headers against them, but I felt I did well.

“Even though I travelled with the squad I didn’t expect to get on - so I was a bit shocked.

“But our fans have been great with me.

“Now I’m really excited for the future. I’ll keep doing what I can to make the fans happy and hopefully I’ll get that goal very soon.”