52-goal academy striker reveals talks with West Brom star before Walsall transfer

The 20-year-old has headed to the Poundland Bescot Stadium on a season-long loan in a move that will hopefully aid his development. Cleary, who featured for the Baggies in their Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood Town last week, will have his first taste of football away from the Hawthorns, with Walsall being his first loan move.

One player who is well positioned to give advice on how to endear yourself to Walsall is Mo Faal, who was on loan with the Saddlers last term. The 21-year-old got six goals in 20 games in the second half of the campaign, and having shared the pitch with Cleary last week, a conversation between the pair has seen Cleary choose to develop at Walsall.

A series of hamstring injuries has limited Cleary's minutes over the last two seasons, but by his own admission he can't wait to get going. At what is a crucial stage of his career, he is ready to test himself against senior players.

“I’m excited to come in, get on the pitch and help the club get to where it wants to be,” said Cleary to the Walsall official club website.

“My friend Mo Faal had a good loan spell here so when I had a conversation with him, I made my mind up and I wanted to come straight here.

“It’s good to play Premier League 2 but I need to start doing it against men in the real life of football because that’s the only way I’m going to get better so I can’t wait to get going.”

In the 2022/23 season, Cleary hit 16 goals and three assists in 12 games, improving on the seven he scored the season prior. At Under-18's level he was also prolific and had 26 goals in 30 games, and that has merited him being viewed so highly among academy bosses.

In total, he has 52 goals in 63 games across the age-grade teams. His new boss Mat Sadler expressed his gratitude to West Brom for the working relationship the two clubs have after several youngsters headed across the Midlands to join them over the years.

"I’m pleased to add Reyes to the team,” said head coach Sadler.

“Thanks again to our relationships at West Brom, we have the opportunity to bring Reyes in.

“He’s a player who, rewind 12 months ago, was sought after by every club in the division above after his prolific season in PL2.

“He’s desperate to succeed, desperate to get back into what he believes is his place. He’s had a taste for it and now he wants more.

“We’ve got to get him up to speed but in terms of his ability, he’s a very good finisher, very direct, wants to get at people and he gives us a different attacking outlet which is what I talk about all the time, having different weapons in the game to be able to beat teams in different ways and he does that.

“He’s different to what we’ve got so far so I’m looking forward to seeing him play.”