Walsall manager Jon Whitney has spoken to the local press and revealed that, despite a lack of options in the attacking department, he is not likely to make any additions to his frontline as he is keen to 'work with what he has' heading into the 2017/18 campaign.
Jon, who was speaking via the Express & Star following Saturday afternoon's pre-season victory over Chester, said; "I am still going to work with what I have got for now but the window is still open. It is open for another while yet. There is still time and it’s important we don’t rush into anything."
At his disposal the gaffer has first-team strikers Simeon Jackson and Amadou Bakayoko along with Cameron Peters, who recently penned his first professional contract, and up-and-coming forward Mitchel Candlin, who scored the winning goal against Chester at the weekend - adding to his midweek brace against Stafford Rangers.
Whitney, who is known to be keen to nurture the club's youth products rather than sign someone who can leapfrog them in the pecking-order, went on to discuss young striker Mitchel Candlin, and insisted that he deserves a chance to prove himself in the first-team, he said; "Mitch looks like he belongs on the pitch. It’s important to for me to show the young ones there is a pathway for them. We purposefully left him out early on in pre-season.
"The reports from the academy on his attitude and application have been great. He has a sniff back with the first team and has scored a goal. That is what you have to, he has taken his opportunity. Of course, I am hoping he can be involved."
"The message is if you are good enough you can come in. That is what we have to do as a club. You have to be fit enough and strong enough but you would not guess he (Candlin) was 16. He has a work ethic, a desire and a passion. He took his opportunity well and could figure if he keeps pushing on as he is."