Fowler Set to Join McDonnell at Aldershot, Sagaf to Stay With Town and New Deal for Smith Friday, 26th Jan 2018 16:38 Town boss Mick McCarthy says defender George Fowler is set to follow Adam McDonnell in joining Vanarama National League Aldershot on a permanent basis, while trialist Mohammed Sagaf is getting longer to impress the Town manager and centre-half Chris Smith is being offered a new deal. Fowler, 20, has made 18 starts and one appearance for the Shots since joining them on loan at the end of August. The former Debenham High School pupil came through the Town academy and made his only appearance for the Blues' first team at Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup in August. “He is [joining Aldershot], that’s the plan,” McCarthy said. “They want to take him and equally he’s not going to get in the first team here. "And so rather than being in a scrum with Adam and another 1,000 players in the summer, I think it’s great that Gary Waddock likes them. "They’re playing, they can improve and we will have a sell-on clause so if they do sell them we would be reimbursed I guess for their development.” Regarding McDonnell, whose move was confirmed this morning, he added: “Adam’s going to join Aldershot. I thought that was only fair to him, he’s there at a club with a manager that really likes him. “At that level he’s done really well. He’s not going to get in my first team in front of our lads, so we’ve let him go, we’ll take a sell-on on him in case he thrives and does wonderfully well and they sell him. “But it’s also so he’s not going to be in the scrum when there are 500 or 1,000 players being released at the end of the season or whatever number it is. “He’s got himself a job, he’s playing and he can step backwards to come forwards again.” Sagaf is a 20-year-old attacking midfielder who came on as a sub for the U23s in the 3-0 victory over QPR last week, then started the 2-0 defeat to Sheffield United on Monday and last night’s 2-1 defeat at West Brom. He has scored 10 goals in 22 games for Waltham Forest, where he was skipper, in the Essex Senior League this season. McCarthy says Sagaf's not joining the club but will spend the rest of the season at Playford Road. “If you saw the game on Monday night, Mo played and I think he’s got something,” he said. “We’re not signing him, but I’d like to take him, maybe on a non-contract basis and let him be around the place, be in the gym for the final three months of the season and see how he does. “I think he’s different to what we’ve got. He gets it, he passes it forward, he’s got a really good eye for it, he’s got a real personality on the pitch. “But we’ve got a lot of midfield players but nevertheless I would like to give him an opportunity to see whether he can do it for us. And, do you know what, if not, somebody else might take him. He’s a great kid, I really like him.” Another trialist who played for the U23s last night was keeper Kleton Perntreou, who is currently with Welling, having previously played for Crystal Palace and Hibernian. “Yes, he’s come in and trained with us and he played in the U23s last night,” the Blues boss added. “He’s done all right, we’re just looking. “We take players in and have a look at them all the time. We’ve got Kevin Bru who’s played for nearly four years, sat in the reception here, came in with Balint Bajner, the two of them, and Kevin Bru’s ended up having a four-year career here. “He walked in on a trial, so I’m always happy to take players in, have a look. It can end up being mutually beneficial.” Meanwhile, central defender Chris Smith has rejoined his former loan club Chelmsford City and McCarthy says the 19-year-old will be offered new terms. “It’s my intention to give Chris Smith a contract,” he added. “I think he’s done well, certainly to get another year. Perhaps we might loan him out again, it might be a league club which will take him.”
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