Walsall legend Walker gives Josh seal of approval

The winger, who had a loan spell with Saddlers back in 2016, rejoined the club on a one-year deal earlier this week.

Since leaving the Banks’s, Ginnelly has twice won promotion from the National League with Lincoln and Tranmere respectively.

And it was while he was with the Imps that he worked with Walker, who is a goalkeeping coach at Sincil Bank.

“Josh was an easy signing for me because I actually went for him at Wrexham last year,” Keates said. “I had done all my checks then about his character and what he is like in the changing room and what he offers the team.

“And he had been at Lincoln so I spoke to Whack (Walker) about him and he sung his praises.

“He is young. He has won two promotions and he has been in changing rooms that have achieved things.

“He is coming in with the objective of cementing his place in the starting XI. That is what he wants. He’s hungry.”

Keates believes Ginnelly’s first spell at Walsall will help him to quickly settle.

But he says that wasn’t a factor in the transfer.

“Josh has been at the club before but I didn’t sign him for that reason,” the boss added. “He knows a few faces in the changing room which will make things easier but it’s different now.

“He has bought into what I have told and I am looking forward to working with him.

“He’s direct, he gets at people and he commits defenders.

“If we can get him full of confidence and get him playing he will go forward and help us as a football club.

“I’m looking forward to watching him develop.

“I’ve no doubt he can do that – he’s got pace, power and can excite the fans.

“He can get at defenders and beat people.”