Walsall sign West Brom youngster Shaun Donnellan on loan

The 20-year-old, who can play in either defence or midfield, is the Saddlers sixth signing of the summer.

Donnellan has skippered the Baggies under-23’s team and scored in the Premier League club’s 2-1 friendly win at the Banks’s last month.

A Republic of Ireland international, he spent the second half of last season on loan at League Two Stevenage, making 18 appearances.

Saddlers boss Jon Whitney believes Donnellan will provide much-needed competition.

He said: “He has come into reinforce us in defence and midfield. He is a good size, a good physical presence.

“I first saw him at Worcester when Amadou Bakayoko was there on loan a couple of years ago and I kept tabs on him.

“John Still at Dagenham raved about him after he went there on loan last season.

“We are trying to get a relationship with West Brom after we took Romaine Sawyers, Sam Mantom and Paul Downing a few years back. I am close to (Albion youth coach) Darren Moore. We have been discussing this move for while.”