Birmingham’s Hall finding salvation at Walsall

George Hall hit his first goal for Walsall in the 3-0 EFL Trophy win over Shrewsbury

It is not even three years since George Hall made his English Football League debut – but Walsall’s on-loan Birmingham City midfielder sure has packed a lot of highs and lows into that timeframe.

There was a Bellingham on the Birmingham bench – Jobe Bellingham, to be fair – when Hall made his Blues league debut against QPR in January 2022.

And already his name was being talked about in those same exalted circles, the next one off the Blues academy production line. Not actually a Bellingham. But talked of in the same breath.

Hall netted in Blues' first home game of the following season, made 30 appearances and scored his second goal of the campaign at Sunderland in mid-April.

Football can so often be so cruel though. Just 13 minutes after that goal at Sunderland, he limped off with a season-ending hamstring injury – and the 20-year-old really is only now on his way back with Walsall.

After being nursed back to full fitness at Bescot following his August deadline-day arrival from St Andrew's, he came off the bench to set up Saturday's equaliser against Crewe, then scored the Saddlers' second goal in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy win over Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday on only his third start in 19 months.

"There's been lots of ups and downs," Hall told BBC Radio WM. "It's been quite difficult. But I've had good people around me to keep me level headed and I knew I'd eventually get over it."

George Hall played for England at Under-18 and Under-19 levels

One of those "good people" has been Saddlers boss Mat Sadler, himself a former Blues player - and the man who has inspired Walsall's dream start to the season, sat second in League Two.

"He's been great with me," said Hall. "He knows how it's been for me

"I'm grateful for the opportunities he's given me – and I just want to repay him."

If Hall were to maintain his current rate of improvement and repay Sadler by helping the Saddlers back to League One for the first time in six years in May, having ended last season on the pitch at St Andrew's reaching the third tier the less attractive way, it would be a lovely story.

But, in reality, having been squeezed out for now at St Andrew's by American-owned Blues' big summer spending spree, Hall has been trying not to run before he can walk.

After the injury, he made only one Blues start last season and missed most of the campaign before making seven late-season substitute appearances, finishing with that final-day win over Norwich and the realisation that Blues had not done enough to stay up.

And it has only really been over the past two games with Walsall that he has really felt himself back to full running power.

"I knew technically, and on the balI, I'd be all right, but it was about getting that confidence back in my body," Hall added.

"You see everyone else the same age pushing on and not getting injured. It's hard to watch from the sidelines and not feel part of it, whether the team are doing well or not.

"But I'm just happy to be over that now and trying to get back to what I was doing before.

"It's nice to have that belief in myself and my body and not have to hold back and be worried about getting injured.

"I just want more assists, more goals and more of a chance to be running on full power again. And to help Walsall – and a great dressing room full of lads."