Walsall we be "foolish" to discount the loan market - Lee Grant

Walsall head coach Lee Grant says he would be “a fool to discount” the loan market this summer.

Goalkeeper Myles Roberts and top goal scorer Daniel Kanu excelled on loan at Bescot last season - while Nathan Lowe and Freddie Draper have also hit the goal scoring trail during temporary stays in recent seasons.

The Saddlers were admittedly stung by January recalls in the cases of Lowe and Draper, but Grant is eager to continue the club’s track record for developing young talent.

‘You’d be a fool to discount that’ - Grant on the loan market

“Yes, we have to. You’d be a fool at this level to discount that,” Grant said.

“We’ve seen the success that the football club has had over the past few years and they’ve done that really well.

“Bigger football clubs will probably look at Walsall as a wonderful opportunity for some of their younger players.

“We have to embrace that.”

Grant highlights loan success examples

Grant is also determined to continue his own reputation for helping improve young prospects - highlighting the examples of Leo Castledine at Huddersfield Town and Omari Hutchinson at Ipswich Town.

Castledine scored 10 goals in 23 games for Huddersfield, on loan from Chelsea, under Grant before sealing a Championship switch to Middlesbrough in January.

Meanwhile, Hutchinson reached the Europa League semi-finals with Nottingham Forest last term, after spending two seasons with Ipswich.

“My track record shows that I’ve certainly taken steps to make sure that’s important for me in terms of improving younger players,” he added.

“Leo Castledine as an example, Omari Hutchinson also came into Ipswich from Chelsea. There are lots of examples across my coaching journey so far.

“Walsall have got a really excellent track record of doing that. We have to lean into that, we have to make sure that we use every angle possible.”