Comment: Jid Okeke has been a 'positive' amid a challenging period for Walsall

Back-to-back defeats in the league has raised concerns, although Okeke's breakthrough has been an exciting development amid the disappointment of recent results. 

The 20-year-old, who arrived on loan from Stockport County on transfer deadline day, has had to bide his time since landing at Bescot. 

Okeke marked his debut cameo from the bench by scoring the Saddlers' third goal in a 3-1 success at Shrewsbury Town in the EFL Trophy, but it would not serve as the catalyst to a blistering start. 

Slow start

Instead, the German-born wing-back was handed two brief appearances from the bench in League Two, before missing out on the squad entirely in the three successive wins over Tranmere Rovers, Accrington Stanley and Bristol Rovers respectively. 

An underwhelming performance in the 1-0 home defeat against Northampton Town followed in the EFL Trophy, but Okeke did at least get 90 minutes in the tank that evening. 

It was enough to earn him a place in the squad for the 1-1 draw at Crawley Town and he was even introduced for the closing stages. 

Recent breakthrough at Walsall

A knock to Vincent Harper presented him with a much larger time frame to impress in the defeat against Barrow and Okeke seized his chance with both hands 

He completed 100 per cent of his 19 passes and the second-most chances (four) despite only being on the pitch for 35 minutes.

His reward was a first league start in the 1-0 loss at Cheltenham Town last weekend, where he was once again a bright spark on a disappointing afternoon. 

Okeke's style is reminiscent of former loanee Nathan Asiimwe. He is two-footed, has plenty of speed and flair, and thrives on beating players at will. 

Harper perhaps provides more balance, and is a safer option from the start, but Okeke's attacking output could be a secret weapon that Sadler will be eager to unleash, and at least adds another layer of depth at wing-back.