Express & Star

Alfie Bates wants more Walsall minutes next season

Alfie Bates is bidding for more minutes in a Walsall shirt after the club exercised their option in his contract to keep him at the club.

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The 19-year-old enjoyed his breakthrough season under Darrell Clarke in 2019/20, making 21 appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals.

Now that the midfielder has had his contract extension taken up by the club, Bates wants to build on his progress with even more games in Walsall colours.

“I’m very delighted to be staying with the club for another year,” Bates said via the club's channels.

“I managed to get quite a few games under my belt last season and now I can’t wait to get some more really.

“I set myself a target last season to get 25 to 30 games under my belt in my first season and I got near to that target. I’m just ready to really kick on now and just get some more games under my belt.

“Last season was a big test for me playing all of the games that I did and then coming out of the team, that really did test my mindset and I feel more experienced now having gone through that and I’m more mentally ready for next season.”

Bates last played for the club on January 11, before manager Darrell Clarke took him out of the side.

Having now come through that, the teenager credits his 'support network' for helping him overcome adversity.

“I’ve had a really good support network around me, especially last season,” he added.

“There are a few role models in the group like Danny Guthrie, James Clarke and Stu Sinclair. They’ve really helped me a lot and they’ve helped me get through it.

“They’ve told me to keep going the way I’m going, keep trying to get as many games under my belt as possible and to just keep enjoying myself really.

“The gaffer has been brilliant with me. He has eased me into the team and then he gave me that run of games and I just want to repay the faith he has shown in me to him.”