George Nurse finding his feet as he settles into regular Walsall role

The 21-year-old started the season on the fringes after picking up a knock in pre-season, but has made the left-back slot his own with consistent performances over the past month.

Despite the hectic schedule, the Bristol City loanee has regularly played 90 minutes back-to-back and scored a sublime goal on Tuesday in the 1-1 draw against Bradford – as Clarke lauded his efforts in Saddlers colours.

“It’s a great strike, he’s been doing that in training a lot – a great finish,” Clarke said. “He’s growing isn’t he, he’s had a great start to his Walsall career. He’s finding his feet.

“He has good quality and he’s similar to Cameron Pring and that’s why we brought him in.

“Hopefully the more games he gets, he flourishes and makes that slot his own. He can play wing-back and I brought him in thinking he was probably better at wing-back but he’s very good attack-minded at full-back as well.

“He played left (midfield) of a four for Newport so I have no problems playing him higher up the pitch.

“I like to look at players who have that flexibility to play two or three positions and I’m sure his positions will change throughout the course of his spell here.

“As well as our 4-2-3-1, we also have different formations that we work on at the training ground for different games and different projects.”

Meanwhile, Clarke believes Emmanuel Osadebe is an upgrade on last year’s understudy James Hardy – as he expects the 24-year-old to improve as the season goes on.

“He gives me another good option in the front end of the pitch and in the couple games he’s done well,” Clarke added.

“I think he’ll grow and get better. They all will.

“It’s my job and my coaching staff to make players individually and collectively better and he’ll be one of those that does that.

“If you’re going to compare him to James Hardy, who was probably a little bit unfortunate not to play that many minutes last year, he’s probably an upgrade on him.

“He’s a bit more of a physical presence as well and has a bit of a rattiness about him, with good quality. A bit unorthodox at times but we’re hoping he keeps working as well as he has done and improves the squad. Osadebe can play any of those systems, left, right, the 10.

“I think 10 is probably his best position but also in the midfield as an eight.

“If we have one sitter and two up against it, Holden and Osadebe could play. The squad can go into most systems and that doesn’t happen overnight.”