Following Walsall's goalless draw with Wolves' Under-23s, Walsall Assistant and Development Coach Brian Dutton spoke to club journalists and urged the Saddlers youngsters seize their chance of making it into the first-team.
With post-coronavirus finances likely to be tight the Saddlers youth team could provide manager Darrell Clarke with several welcome options as he looks to build upon last season's mid-table finish.
Clarke has already fielded a number of prospects in his pre-season sides with the likes of Joe Foulkes and Jayden Campbell both featuring in the recent goalless draw with Wolves Under-23s.
Whilst first-year professionals Sam Perry and Joe Willis will be joining Tom Leak in the battle for first-team coach Dutton admits he has been impressed with their application and believes their strong work ethic will give them the best chance of breaking into the first-team.
Speaking via the club's official website, Brian said; "Credit to the youngsters, they’ve come back fit and they’re pushing themselves.
"It’s always down to the mentality I find, it’s not a case of finding pure talent that will find its way to the top with a click of the fingers without doing the hard miles.
"It’s a case of the young lads applying themselves, preparing themselves and trying to get a first team shirt and keeping it. To do that you’ve got to have an unbelievable work ethic and we’ve got that with this group of players;
"They are all pushing each other, they are all helpful to each other and it is competitive and I’m really pleased we’ve how the youngsters have come through and it’s a bright future hopefully."