Walsall running out of options

Focus on Athletic’s next opponents

THIS has not been a pleasant season so far for Walsall supporters.

Stuck at the bottom of npower League One and last week booted out of the FA Cup by lower-league opposition, suffering Saddlers fans have also been made to endure the loss of several key strikers.

Former Athletic front man Darren Byfield — big mate of captain Reuben Hazell — is out for six weeks with a knee injury.

Martin Devaney, brought in on loan from Barnsley, has missed the last five games with a hamstring problem.

Highly-rated Reuben Reid, who has been linked with a move to Premier League newcomers Blackpool, has a hamstring problem which will keep the on-loan West Brom player out for up to three weeks.

And former Manchester City striker Jonathan Macken's calf problem will sideline him for a similar length of time.

Should all those players be fit, Saddlers manager Chris Hutchings would have a very decent strike force to call upon for Saturday’s home game against Athletic.

As it is, the former Bradford and Wigan boss is set to put his faith in the likes of 19-year-old striker Will Grigg, who made his first start for the club in Saturday's 1-0 cup loss at Torquay.

Grigg played alongside Liam Dickinson at Plainmoor.

The Salford-born 25-year-old has had a nomadic existence since Derby paid £750,000 for his services from Stockport two years ago and his latest loan spell at Walsall follows short stints at Huddersfield, Blackpool, Leeds, Brighton, Peterborough and Barnsley — who paid £150,000 for a player who managed nine league goals last season.

Walsall appear to be badly missing striker Troy Deeney. Now in the Championship with Watford having made a £500,000 summer move, the 22-year-old scored 14 goals last season to help his old side to a comfortable final league position of 10th.

It could be argued that the entire spine of the 2009-10 team has now disappeared.

Goalkeeper Clayton Ince has retired, centre-back and captain Mark Hughes snubbed a contract offer and left the country to go and play with North Queensland Fury in the Australian A-League, while midfield general Dwayne Mattis is now plying his trade at Chesterfield under the guidance of former Athletic manager John Sheridan.

Walsall have won only twice in their last 10 league and cup matches.

Both of those victories were at home; one by a 2-0 scoreline in an FA Cup replay against Sean Gregan's Fleetwood and the other a 2-1 triumph over Carlisle.