League Two playoff finalists Walsall have announced the signing of Watford goalkeeper Myles Roberts on a season-long loan, as per the club’s official website.
Roberts’ Career So Far
Roberts game through the Reading academy and he had brief loan spells at Wealdstone and Tonbridge Angels before joining Watford in January 2020.
He has never played a senior game for the Hornets, spending most of his time out on loan.
The now 23-year-old spent the 2021/22 season on loan with Concord Rangers before joining Welling United the following campaign, both of whom play in the National League South.
He got recalled from Welling by Watford in April 2024 due to a goalkeeping injury crisis at Vicarage Road, but he still won Welling’s Manager’s Player of the Season award.
Roberts spent the first half of last season on loan with Partick Thistle in the Scottish Championship. He played 19 league games for the Jags, conceding just 14 goals and keeping an impressive eight clean sheets whilst having a 78.8% save percentage.
The second half of the campaign was slightly disappointing. He moved to League One side Bristol Rovers on loan but failed to make an appearance for the Gas.
Walsall’s Goalkeeping Situation
The Saddlers’ first-choice goalkeeper last season, Tommy Simkin, has returned to parent club Stoke City upon the expiration of his loan.
This left the League Two side with Sam Hornby, who only played six league games last season, as their only senior goalkeeper heading into this campaign, though 18-year-old academy prospect Jenson Kilroy signed his first professional contract this summer.
Manager Mat Sadler was therefore desperately in need of another goalkeeping option.
Speaking upon Roberts’ arrival, he said:
“Myles is another really promising young goalkeeper who we are excited to be working with for the upcoming season.
“He had a great first half of the season last year up in Scotland and I am sure he will want to kick on from his experiences that he had up there with Partick.”
The 23-year-old also looks to be excited about joining Walsall, saying:
“It was a big thing for me to be able to get the move done so I could be with the lads right from the first day of preseason because I think that’s going to be important for me as part of my development here at Walsall.
“I had a really strong start to last season, playing regularly up in Scotland and it was a real learning curve for me and I am now ready for my next step and I am really looking forward to the season ahead with the Saddlers and I’m already looking ahead to the first game of the season at home in front of the fans.
“The conversations I’ve had with the Head Coach have been really positive and now I am excited to come in and to work with the rest of the keepers and to really push on.”
Writer’s View
Some Walsall fans may be concerned about signing a goalkeeper who was a backup for a relegated side last season, but they must remember that Simkin had an unimpressive spell at Forest Green Rovers, who were relegated from a division lower than Bristol Rovers, before moving to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium last campaign.
Roberts has a good frame and a reasonable amount of experience for a 23-year-old. If the Sadlers are prepared to wholeheartedly back him, he could prove to be a very shrewd addition for the upcoming season.
