Injury-hit Walsall are sweating on the fitness of four key players ahead of the game with Oldham Athletic but defender Rhys Weston reckons they will miss one more than most.

Stephen Hughes, Stephen Roberts, Clayton Ince and Jabo Ibehre are all struggling to make the trip to Boundary Park, meaning manager Jimmy Mullen is down to the bare bones.

Hughes is rated “very doubtful” by Mullen after suffering whiplash in the 3-0 defeat to MK Dons on Saturday, Ince is struggling with a hamstring injury and Ibehre is battling a knee complaint.

Their absences would leave Mullen with just 16 fit senior players, but Weston believes the potential loss of Roberts with a groin injury is crucial, as Saddlers hunt only their fourth clean sheet of the season.

Weston said: “He is quietly spoken and keeps himself to himself, but he is part of the spine of the team.

“Centre-backs are the lynchpin of defence and when he and Anthony Gerrard are playing together, they are one of the best pairings in the division. He is a big player for us and a very good one.”

Roberts had come under fire following poor displays, before a Man of the Match performance at Colchester ten days ago.

Weston insists he didn’t let the criticism affect him.

He said: “That is the life of a footballer – you are judged on your performances. No-one is on top of their game all of the time and it is character building.”

Manny Smith could deputise for Roberts and Weston feels, despite his errors on Saturday, Smith will prove his worth.

The former Arsenal man said: “Manny Smith has done well in the reserve games and he is a young lad who will keep learning.”