'Ironing out bad habits' - Walsall's Lewis Warrington reflects on Tranmere loan ahead of reunion

His professional debut came across the River Mersey when he left boyhood club Everton for his first loan spell with Tranmere Rovers in January 2021.

'It's not wishy washy under-23s football anymore'

"I went in and there were experienced lads there. Jay Spearing, Peter Clarke and Callum McManaman were there. 

"It was my first loan but I didn't go in with an expectation that it was going to be like Everton," Warrington reflects ahead of the Saddlers' home clash against his former club on Saturday.

"I knew from day one that I need to be at my best because you're fighting for three points here. 

"It's not wishy washy under-23s football anymore. I'm in the men's game and I took to that really well. 

"I showed what I was about, I was smashing people from day one. The manager Micky Mellon put loads of faith in me and played me every game." 

Warrington made 17 appearances for Tranmere and continued to excel at youth level for Everton.

Warrington on avoid getting "stuck" in academy football

That eventually culminated in a Premier League debut from the bench in May last year, but Warrington has always been wary of getting stuck in the academy system.

"The academy system is great but I'm still ironing out bad habits," he explains.

"I played quite a lot of EFL games based on what I'd learned in the academy. 

"In the Premier League, there's a big emphasis on passing football and that's what we got taught. 

"But especially when you go down the leagues, you get less time, you've got to know where your next pass is and you've got to put yourself about. 

"You can't be a naive or timid because the gaffer is not going to pick you."

Following his loan at Tranmere, Warrington featured 44 times for Fleetwood Town in League One, before struggling for game time during his temporary stay in the Championship with Plymouth Argyle. 

'I'm a very mature 22-year-old'

Those contrasting spells have been logged as learning experiences by the young midfielder, who finally left Everton after 15 years in 2024. 

His switch to Leyton Orient failed to have the desired effect, but Warrington has arrived at Bescot with the mindset to keep improving.

"The Tranmere one, I had only played 15 games for the under-23s at that stage before they came in on transfer deadline day," he says.

"My thought process was: 'I don't want to get stuck here, it's not going to benefit me'."

"You learn a lot working under different managers and living away from home. 

"I feel like I'm a very mature 22-year-old because of those experiences. I didn't play as much at Plymouth, which tested me because I had been on upward curve prior to that. 

"It's all a learning experience. I keep in touch with players who've played 500 or more games and I ask for their advice. 

"I always want to learn because that's where I want to be. I'm still young and I want to keep getting better."