Reece Flanagan backed to make Walsall breakthrough after superb solo goal for Leamington

The Saddlers boss says the 19-year-old playmaker's exciting potential is one of the main reasons he opted to release Nicky Featherstone.

Flanagan is yet to make his first team debut but featured on the bench in the final game of the season against Colchester.

And he also earned rave reviews during a loan spell at non-league Leamington, where he scored a "wonder goal" against Oxford City, which has since racked up hundreds of views on YouTube.

Veteran Adam Chambers and player of the season Sam Mantom are likely to begin the season as Smith's preferred pairing in the middle of the park but the manager expects Flanagan to challenge strongly for a starting place.

"Reece is an excellent player and I have high hopes for him," he said. "He has done really well and was one of the reasons I didn't keep Nicky."

Featherstone played a key role in some of the Saddlers biggest results last term, including the 1-0 win over Wolves at Molineux.

But he found himself unable to break up the Mantom and Chambers partnership and was largely limited to appearances off the bench from New Year onwards.

Smith added: "I said to Nicky that I saw the other two ahead of him. I think he is a fantastic player who never let us down, certainly when we played with three in the middle.

"But I had to wonder whether he would be stunting Reece's development by still being here? I think the answer in my head was yes.

"It was a tough decision but I also think Nicky was getting frustrated at not playing. He wants to play and it was probably in his best interests as well as the clubs that he move on."

In addition to Flanagan, Smith expects the likes of winger Kieron Morris and centre-back Matt Preston to be pushing for first team places next term. The latter also enjoyed a successful loan spell at Barwell and Smith added: "Matt Preston is someone who also went out and grew in stature. He went to Barwell and got man of the match every week.

"He has looked a different animal, he is another one, a young up and coming centre half who we have high hopes for."