Shaun Donnellan ‘not bothered’ if West Brom contract comes his way

The 21-year-old centre-back is currently on a six-month loan at Walsall and has featured eight times in League One so far.

His Baggies contract is up at the end of the season after the club decided to take up the 12-month extension in his deal and send him out on loan.

But the Ireland under-21 international has had enough of playing academy football and believes he is ready to step up to first team action - and that's looking unlikely at The Hawthorns.

“If they (Albion) offer me a new contract, they offer me a new contract,” said Donnellan. “I just want to play first team football, wherever that may be.

“I don’t want to be floating around in the under-23s. If it’s not at West Brom, it’s not at West Brom. I’m not too bothered about that. I want to be settled in a first team environment, wherever that may be.”

Donnellan started five of the first seven league games of the season for the Saddlers but was dropped from the starting line-up in September and has struggled for minutes since then.

“I took it on the chin (getting dropped),” he said. “I was a bit disappointed but that’s football, you just have to crack on and keep your head down. I have been on loan for the past couple of seasons and this is another step up.

“I was at Worcester and then Dagenham last year, where we close to getting promoted (out of the National League). It’s a big step up and I started well, been in and out of the team lately but I’m enjoying it.”

Donnellan isn’t the only Albion youngster on loan at the Banks’s Stadium.

Tyler Roberts has scored four goals for the Saddlers already this season and his performances have caught the eye.

“Tyler is flying,” said Donnellan. “It’s nice to see him doing so well as he’s a good friend of mine.”