DRAPER HAS GOT ALL THE TOOLS!

ON-LOAN Walsall teenager Freddie Draper has admitted he is never satisfied walking off a football pitch after only scoring once.

- Dave Flett

Draper, recruited by the Saddlers on season-long terms from Lincoln in the summer, hit his first senior hat-trick against Newport in October having bagged a couple of braces for Drogheda in a previous loan spell during the 2023 League of Ireland campaign.

The 19-year-old striker has been playing his way back to full fitness following a groin injury in recent weeks, but now feels ready to get back on course to reaching his minimum goal target for the season of 20.

Full of self-belief without being arrogant, Draper arrived at the Poundland Bescot Stadium aiming to be the club's top-scorer for 2023-24 despite the presence of proven 20-goal EFL marksmen Danny Johnson and Jamille Matt in the dressing room.

Sharpness

E He left Drogheda in July having netted eight times in 21 outings, confessing "it was the best pre-season I could have had, because of the sharpness I still had going into the season here".