Walsall are keeping tabs on Milan Lalkovic

The talented winger has previously enjoyed two successful spells at the Banks’s Stadium and is currently a free agent after leaving Portsmouth.

Lalkovic, who began his career at Chelsea, is currently working to overcome an Achilles injury and is believed to be around three weeks away from full fitness.

But Whitney revealed he is in regular contact with the 25-year-old. And he wouldn’t rule out Lalkovic playing a key role for his side this season.

“I spoke to Milan on deadline day and I’ve also spoken to him over the past few days to see how he is getting on,” the boss said.

“He is a long way off full fitness at the moment. But he is doing his rehab work.

“He’s a free agent. I understand Milan. I’ve known him for a long time and he is a player I really like.

“I might look at bringing him in in a couple of weeks time and let him train in the gym.

“If there is an opportunity, I wouldn’t rule out Milan playing a part for us this year.

“First and foremost though he has to get himself fit. Milan needs to get back to having a smile on his face – that is the most important thing for him at the minute.”

Lalkovic first joined Walsall on loan from Chelsea in 2013 and went on to score six goals in 42 appearances in his first season with the club.

After a spell at Barnsley, he then followed that up by netting eight goals in 50 games as the Saddles came a whisker away from winning promotion back in the 2015/16 campaign.

And Whitney feels his squad would benefit from Lalkovic’s creativity.

“I thought he was really effective in that last year he was with us,” the boss continued.

“He is a character Milan. But I don’t mind characters. And I think you have to have a bit of an arrogance about you with play the way he plays.

“I think we got him playing really well in the loan spells and when he joined permanently. I think he got better and better each time.”