Walsall have completed the short-term signing of Mansfield Town forward Danny Johnson, who has penned a six-month loan deal at Poundland Bescot Stadium.
29-year-old Johnson, who joined the Stags from Leyton Orient in the summer of 2021, netted seven goals across twenty-six first-team appearances last season and adds much-needed strength to the Saddlers' front line.
Middlesbrough-born Johnson arrived in Mansfield on the back of a twenty-goal 2020/21 for Leyton Orient, a season which included a run of five goals in the first five games of the season.
Johnson began his career as a youngster with his hometown club before moving into the youth system at Hartlepool United and, following spells with Harrogate Town and Billingham Synthonia, he would hit the headlines at Guisborough Town.
Scoring an incredible fifty-nine goals in fifty-five all-competition games, Danny's 2013/14 campaign saw him collect the manager's Player of the Year award, the Northern Football League’s Player of the Year award, and BBC Newcastle’s Player of the Year award.
Earning himself a move to Championship side Cardiff City, Danny did well for the Bluebird's under-21 squad before sealing a switch to Gateshead where he would go on to score fifty-two more goals over his three years with the Tynesiders.
Spells in Scotland with Motherwell and Dundee preceded his switch to East London's O's, where he would continue to score at a great rate of knots as he secured twenty goals in forty-eight appearances before moving to Mansfield.
The Saddlers were somewhat threadbare in attack, with only Andy Williams and on-loan Stoke City man Douglas James-Taylor available to lead the line ahead of Danny's arrival, an arrival which, however short-term, will go a long way to pleasing the faithful.
Speaking via the club's official website, Saddlers Head Coach Michael Flynn expressed his delight at adding Johnson to his squad and he can’t wait to work with what he describes as a natural goal scorer.
He said; "I’m really pleased to have Danny in the building. He’s a proven scorer at this level and he’s shown a desire to come and play games for us.
"I’d like to thank Trivela and Leigh for their support and also Nigel Clough and David Sharpe."