Walsall striker Amadou Bakayoko signs new contract

Walsall striker Amadou Bakayoko has signed a new contract to keep him at the club until the summer of 2018.

The improved deal includes the option of a further year in the club's favour should the 20-year-old continue to impress over the forthcoming 20 months.

Bakayoko, whose existing contract was set to expire at the end of this season, has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign under Saddlers boss Jon Whitney having made 15 appearances in all competitions.

He scored his first senior goal and first hat-trick for the club in a 5-2 victory over Grimsby in the Checkatrade Trophy before marking his full league debut with a goal against Shrewsbury last month.

Whitney told the club's official website: "We're really pleased with Ama, He showed what he was about during pre-season and has progressed really well over the past few months.

"He's a player who has always had great potential but he's shown he's got the right work ethic and application this year to develop into a real asset.

"It's great for him and for the club. He can settle down and concentrate on his football now.

"He's done the right thing and went out on loan early on in his career and I think it gave him a comparative and taught him all about men's football.

"I went to see him a few times when he was with Worcester and he really stood out on the pitch. He looked like a player who was a level above and he's taken those attributes into the first team.

"Scoring his goals has helped his confidence and now he's got to look at increasing his starting appearances and that'll come through hard work and enthusiasm on and off the pitch."