Walsall boss Jimmy Mullen has rejected the chance to sign former Manchester United trainee Ashley Westwood.

Westwood, a free agent since his release from Stevenage, played in the Saddlers reserves’ 3-2 win at Mansfield and has been training with the club for a week – but Mullen has since withdrawn his interest.

Mullen said: “Ashley has been here for a week but I spoke to him to explain he was very similar to what we have got,o we won’t be taking it any further.

“He was with us for a week and that was before the transfer deadline, so I was just covering myself in case we lost someone.”

The Saddlers boss hasn’t ruled out a dip into the market when the loan window reopens.

He said: “It is an option which is open to me. If everyone stays fit with what we have got, we will be okay but it is there to use if I need to.”

Westwood was in central defence against the Stags second string with Rhys Weston, who came through his first 90 minutes of the season unscathed.

Mullen has also denied he is set to make a move for freed Wolves midfielder Kevin O’Connor, despite having him watched on Tuesday.

The Saddlers’ football consultant Paul Taylor watched O’Connor, who has been released on a free by Wolves following his recovery from a hamstring injury, in their 1-0 reserve defeat to Coventry.

Mullen has rejected ideas he is about to swoop for the younger brother of former Albion midfielder James.

He said: “We are aware of Kevin, because we know he is a free agent but he is one of a number of lads we have kept tabs on.

“Paul didn’t go there to target Kevin in particular. It is just nice to see him play a game of football again.”