Walsall have unveiled Aaron Pressley as their new striker. The Stevenage forward returned from a somewhat underwhelming loan spell with Barrow this summer.
The 23-year-old scored four goals during his stay at Holker Street. The Saddlers are looking to replace Nathan Lowe’s line-leading ability during his prolific loan earlier last season. Stoke City’s prospect netted 18 times in 30 appearances in all competitions but was struck with injury upon his return to the Potters.
Walsall unfortunately missed out on promotion to League One, slipping further and further down the table following Lowe’s recall specifically. With the confirmation of another fourth division campaign ahead, the Saddlers will be looking to replicate the Englishman’s prolific finishing with former Brentford striker, Pressley.
Career So Far
The former Scotland under 17-international was a graduate of the Aston Villa academy, with a permanent switch to Brentford in January 2020 beginning Pressley’s professional career. A loan at AFC Wimbledon in the 2021/22 season saw the 23-year-old net four times in 27 matches. In the second half of the following season, Accrington Stanley offered the striker a great platform in League One, scoring eight goals in all competitions.
32 appearances later, and with the 21-match Barrow stint during his time with the Boro, Pressley has now become the Saddlers’ prospect of a leading man in the goalscoring department.
Pressley and Sadler’s Thoughts
In an interview following the club’s announcement of the signing, the striker gave his thoughts on the latest opportunity:
“I’m delighted to be honest. I’ve seen the stadium, seen the training ground and after speaking to the manager about his plans for the season, I’m desperate to get started on Monday and really looking forward to it.
“For me now it’s about working my socks off, putting the ball in the back of the net and hopefully I can be a player that the team really values, not just in possession but out of possession as well.
“In possession, I can really be a foil for the team to play from so hopefully from there I really endear myself to the supporters and they can really get behind myself and the team.”
Matt Sadler, Walsall’s head coach, offered his expectations for Pressley ahead of a pivotal redemption season:
“We’re really pleased to get him on a permanent, a three-year contract, and he comes in as another set of the group of young, hungry players that we’ve got at the club that we want to continue to recruit.
“They want to get better, they want to improve and it fits exactly the mould of players that we’re bringing in and the identity of the club.
“I’m really chuffed that Aaron has decided to join us amongst all the other clubs that were in for him, of which there were a lot, so we’re extremely happy to get this one done.”
Writer’s View
Pressley is a physical presence and a striker who has performed a division higher than he will with the Saddlers. Walsall will be expecting a direct Lowe replacement to spearhead their attack next season.
Sadler will be able to mould the 23-year-old into an excellent prospect; the striker will likely kick on and use his aerial dominance and physicality to bully defenders as well as improve contribution to build-up play.
