Theo Vassell is raring to go after completing a move to Chester FC that had been on the cards for most of the summer.
The 19-year-old and Jon McCarthy first spoke several weeks ago with a view to Vassell, who was a free agent following his release from Oldham Athletic, signing for the Blues on a permanent basis.
But the defender was on Walsall's radar too having impressed during a few days training with the Saddlers, whose first-team coach Dean Holden worked with him at Oldham.
Vassell understandably wanted to remain in the Football League but Walsall felt he needed to gain experience so the two clubs came up with a plan.
He would sign for Walsall, finalising a one-year deal with the option of a further 12 months last week, and then spend the next six months on loan at the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium.
With the plan now executed, Vassell cannot wait to get started.
"I spoke to Jon McCarthy in May when he first asked me to play for Chester and before I decided to sign for Walsall," said Vassell.
"He told me to ask about a loan to Chester and that's how the move came about so it was kind of the plan before I signed for Walsall that this was going to happen.
"The move to Walsall took a bit of time to sort out but we finally got there in the end and I'm looking forward to being at Chester and doing well for the team."
Based in Stoke-on-Trent, Vassell travels to training with his Walsall club-mate Liam Roberts, who signed for the Blues on a season-long loan deal last week , and knows James Alabi and Matty Waters from his time in the Stoke City academy.
He left the Britannia Stadium at the end of the 2014/15 season and linked up with Oldham in October 2014 but did not make a senior appearance for the Latics.
Vassell believes his spell with Chester will allow him to gain valuable experience in the National League and admitted he had researched the Blues before the move.
"With me just being 19 it's a great opportunity for me to come here and I can't wait to get started to be honest," said Vassell.
"I've only just joined Walsall and I've not really played any league games so I think for me to get this experience now is going to help me in the long-term.
"I've seen a few games and I've got a couple of friends who've gone on loan to clubs in the Conference so I know what it's about and I know it's not going to be easy.
"It's obviously a competitive league and I know a lot of players get scouted and bought by higher clubs so I know it's a decent standard and I'm lookng forward to playing in it.
"I trained on Monday and I enjoyed it. When you come to a new club you're thinking about what to expect and what it's going to be like but I settled in well. There's a good group of lads and I know a couple of them already like James and Liam.
"I did my research before I arrived because I obviously knew I was coming. Chester's not too far from where I live and I've been on the website looking at the fixtures and asking people about how many fans come to the games.
"I'm looking forward to being involved against Wigan on Wednesday night and I've seen that the first league game is a trip to Gateshead and I can't wait for that."
