West Bromwich Albion No2 Keith Downing is delighted with Sam Mantom's progress on-loan at Walsall.

Downing is not surprised to hear that the Stourbridge-born midfielder has helped improve the plight of relegation-threatened Walsall.

"I think Sam's got a bright future," he told the WBA website.

"But we have always felt we needed to give him time.

"His physical attributes are getting better and better, as he is a late developer in that respect."