Walsall loanee Ronan Maher thriving off two winning dressing rooms

The 19-year-old joined Tamworth on an initial one month loan in November and has since helped them to victory over Dagenham and Redbridge in the National League through an assist, and scored the equaliser for the Lambs against Burton Albion in the FA Cup last Sunday.

That has seen them secure a plum FA Cup tie against Tottenham at The Lamb ground next month and the chance to pull off one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s history.

And the teenager is also spending much of his week working at Saddlers’ Essington training ground, developing his skills alongside the club’s promotion-chasing League Two squad.

Maher said: “To be in and around both changing rooms, the morale is high in both.

“Since I have been at Tamworth we have won both games and at Walsall we are flying in all aspects.

“Everyone at Walsall is doing amazing. We’re climbing the league, we have done really well in the Carabao and FA Cups, so we have really excelled so far this season.

“We have got a really good group and there is a lot of togetherness about it. We think we can get promoted this season, that has been our mentality.

“Everyone at Walsall has been incredible and I can’t fault any of them with how well they are doing.

“I’ve had to be patient, I am still young. But, I need to get my minutes for my own development, so a loan was the best move for me.

“Tamworth came in, I have gone there and ultimately I have had a really good start.”

Although Maher is unsure on how long his loan at the Lambs will last, the Cup draw is not too dissimilar to what he described would be his “dream tie” in Manchester United.

Maher made eight Walsall appearances this season ahead of his loan to the National League side, and being part of a competitive Saddlers team, he is thankful for the chance to get action on the pitch with the Lambs.

“I am very grateful to Tamworth gaffer Andy Peaks for bringing me in and offering me these minutes,” the winger added.

“I have only been there for two weeks, did one training session and went straight into the starting 11 against Dagenham and Redbridge, and got the assist for the winning goal so that was a good start.

“For him to start me in the FA Cup as well and then me return the favour by getting the equaliser to stay in the game and lead it to penalties and the win feels great, so thanks to the gaffer for that.”