George Bennett on Nathan Lowe's departure and what next for Walsall

George Bennett discusses Nathan Lowe's recall to his parent club Stoke City - and Walsall's plans to bring in a new forward.

Transcript

00:00kind of felt that, you know, while we were enjoying the moment, it did feel that sort of

00:04every goal he was scoring was kind of edging him closer to that daunting recall.

00:11Walsall have obviously been stung twice in the past with that, in the past two January

00:18transfer windows with Danny Johnson and Freddie Draper. In Johnson's case, it proved

00:24catastrophic, although I think also the return of, sorry, the departure of Liam Bennett also

00:31contributed to that. Walsall obviously went on to have a dismal second half to the season.

00:38Last season, it was not quite as catastrophic. I mean, Freddie Draper's recall, Hutchinson kind

00:46of stepped up to the plate. Josh Gordon and Mo Fowle came in, struck up a partnership. It took

00:52them a little bit of time to really kind of find their feet, but Mo Fowle proved a fruitful

00:59signing on the loan market. And I guess really going into the season, you're thinking,

01:05can Walsall find another Draper? And they managed to find someone that, for me, has a much

01:11higher ceiling. I believe he has the potential to reach the very top, Nathan Lowe. So you look

01:20at kind of Walsall's recent track record on the loan market. I mean, you know, even aside from

01:25strikers, you've got Tommy Simpkin there. Emmanuel Adebiego was great last season during his loan

01:31spell in the second half of the campaign from Norwich. David Icagüe was another one, obviously

01:36joined permanently now. So Walsall have definitely had more hits than misses on the loan market. So

01:43you would like to think, and I think those examples can kind of, Walsall fans can have

01:51faith from that, that he would have planned for all eventualities. And I mean, if he's been able

01:56to find some of the players he's found on the loan market, there's no reason why he couldn't bring in

02:00an effective replacement. But clearly, Nathan Lowe, I'll mention those names there, shines

02:05brighter than any of them. So it's going to be an unenviable task to try and fill his shoes.

02:11I'd be stunned if Walsall didn't kind of go into the market for another striker

02:15between now and the end of the window. But you talk about those options there, and

02:21while I probably can't see kind of Adoma, Josh Gordon, Danny Johnson playing a starring role,

02:30they will at least somewhat help compensate for the departure of Lowe. But I think the main

02:37positive from this situation is the fact that Walsall are sitting at the top of the league. So

02:45there will be strikers there that are looking for a new challenge,

02:49and that's going to be a very attractive prospect for them, that they could have a promotion and

02:56possibly a League Two title under their belt at the end of the season. So I think that puts Walsall

03:00in a strong position there in terms of trying to find an effective replacement.

03:07But clearly, it's going to be a difficult challenge. But I just feel that their position

03:15in the table is going to increase their pool of options. And not just that, but I mean,

03:23you look at Walsall's record with loan players, it's not just the fact that they've been able to

03:28find those players, but clubs from the Championship, Premier League will be looking at

03:33Walsall and the success that they've had with Lowe, the success that they've had with other players,

03:40and see them as an ideal destination for their players to develop and get game time. So I feel

03:44that Walsall will have a strong pool of options between now and the end of the window.