Dean Keates backing Zeli Ismail to fulfil his Walsall promise

The 24-year-old joined the Saddlers on one-year-deal with a year’s option earlier this week after leaving Bury.

It’s a move that’s delighted fans after Ismail shone in a six-month loan deal at Banks’s Stadium last season.

But after turning out for eight clubs in the past six years, Keates believes it’s time the Wolverhampton-based winger settled down.

“For me we offer the perfect environment for the lad,” the boss said.

“He lives 10 minutes away. He is back home and all his family are around him.

"And that is how I sold it to him, come here and be part of the right environment.

"I told him I have every confidence that I can help him push on.

“Here he can get his career on track and show the fans – what they saw in that brief spell – over the next few years.”

Keates confirmed Ismail was one of his top transfer targets this summer with the boss having been impressed by his performances for Bury last year.

“When I first got the job here I watched Bury a few times,” the manager continued.

“They had a lot of games in hand.

"But I’d also heard Zeli’s name mentioned around the place and I was impressed by what he did in his first spell here.

“He carries the ball well and he can get you up the pitch in different ways, he has pace and he is explosive. He gets you on the edge of your seat.”

"It’s very similar to how I feel about Josh Ginnelly."

Ismail impressed on the wing while with Saddlers last season but often operated in a front two for Bury.

Keates, though, says he will primarily be used out wide next year.

“For me, he is a winger,” the boss added.

“But we have that option of playing him in a front two if needs be.”