What is the biggest lesson Daniel Kanu has learned from his Walsall loan

Daniel Kanu feels “decision-making” is the biggest improvement he has made to his game during his goal-laden loan spell at Walsall.

The 21-year-old has scored 18 goals and set-up three more in all competitions and was crowned League Two young player of the year earlier this month.

He can still become the first Walsall player in a decade to score 20 goals in a single season if he finds the net twice on the final day at Bromley on Saturday.

Although he has been prolific, there has still been criticism levelled at his decision-making in key moments at times - particularly during his seven-match goal drought, which he eventually broke in a 2-1 win over Newport County last month.

Kanu on his biggest improvement at Walsall

And Kanu has explained that his awareness of his surroundings on the pitch has been one of the biggest lessons he has taken from his time at Bescot.

“I was speaking to Darren about this and he mentioned how I’m a lot more aware of my surroundings compared to before,” Kanu acknowledged.

“Decision-making can always be better. That’s something I hold myself to and I know that sometimes I pass when I shoot, or sometimes I shoot when I should pass.

“That just comes with experience and learning, but I think just being aware of those things in the first place is something I’ve worked at.”

As for putting pressure on himself to score goals, Kanu has insisted that he does not allow it to weigh heavily on him.

As long as chances come, goals will follow

Kanu has averaged 1.3 shots on target per 90 (the joint-fifth most in the league) which he countered is a good demonstration of his productivity in the final third.

And as long as chances come his way, Kanu is always confident that goals will follow.

“No, I don’t really think about it. I take pride in the fact that I have got the most shots on target per game [at Walsall],” he continued.

“That means I’m getting in the right position and my problem would be if I didn’t have a sniff. That would bother me.

“Making the wrong decision shooting it like the second layer. That’s where awareness and decision-making come in which I’ve been trying to work at this year.

“But the foundational thing is: am I getting opportunities in the first place? And I feel like this team has helped me be in a position where I do get those opportunities.

“I used to think I was an instinctive striker but it’s hard to go up another level if you don’t have anticipation.

“You have to train that in terms of when you need to go and the timing of runs.”