Express & Star

Dean Keates tight-lipped on Walsall's mystery man

Dean Keates says Walsall will take an extended look at a mystery striker after he netted in their friendly defeat to Rushall Olympic.

Published
Last updated

The forward, who is rumoured to be from Cyprus, netted in the second half as the Saddlers slipped to a 2-1 loss at Dales Lane.

The mystery man was previously at the academy of a Premier League club but returned home to study for a degree.

Now though he is determined to grab a second chance of becoming a professional footballer – with Keates revealing he had impressed since joining up with the Saddlers in training.

“I can tell you a lot about him but I’m not going to,” joked Keates.

“He has come in and been with us for a week. He had an opportunity to play in the country when he was a lot younger and that was at a Premier League team.

“His family choose the education route. He got a degree in his homeland.

“And the agent that had him over here at an academy in the Premier League has now recommended him to us.

“I wouldn’t say he is a shot in the dark because he has played at a good level in his homeland.

“But he got put to us and knowing the agent and some of the other players he’s helped develop, we thought we’d take a look at him.

“Full credit to the lad, he is paying for his own digs and own flight because he wants to come over here.

“He’s been down the academic route but now he wants to try and get into football. He did well at Rushall and he has done well in training.”

Keates gave 25 players a run out at Dales Lane as he looked to get some much needed match minutes into his squad.

“I am disappointed with the final score - but we got out of it what we wanted to get out of it,” he added.

“We got a tough, physical battle – that was always going to be the case.

“I know from my experience here they are always a team that are together and they like to defy the odds.

“The most important thing was we got some minutes in the lads."