Triple injury blow at Walsall

Wednesday 25th March 2009, 11:27AM GMT.

boertien.jpegWalsall have been rocked by a triple injury blow as Martin O’Connor vows to leave no stone unturned for new signings.

Left-backs Paul Boertien and Netan Sansara are both massive doubts for Saturday’s visit of Cheltenham with respective rib and ankle injuries – leaving the Saddlers with just two fit recognised defenders.

Centre-backs Stephen Roberts and Anthony Gerrard are still sidelined and they are joined by striker Jabo Ibehre who is rated 50/50 for the Robins clash with a groin injury.

Assistant boss O’Connor said: “Paul’s doubtful for Saturday and Netan has gone over on his ankle which is a blow and something we’ve got to assess. He’s doubtful.

“We are waiting on the physio’s word, it doesn’t look very hopeful for the two of them.

“Jabo has a groin problem and he is struggling so it looks like me and Hutch are getting our boots out.”

Rhys Weston and Manny Smith are the only fit natural defenders and, with Gerrard still out for at least another week and Roberts no nearer a return, reinforcements are desperately needed.

Boss Chris Hutchings and O’Connor have until the emergency loan deadline at 5pm tomorrow to swoop.

“We’ve been short at the back since we got here and we’ve got until Thursday so we’ll keep persevering,” said O’Connor.

“The gaffer is making phone calls, I’m making phone calls, but for whatever reason we’ve been knocked back on a couple of targets.”


  1. 1
    Johnny Dukes

    rubbish – complete rubbish!! The club have known we needed players for a long time and then it gets to this. About time we had a real management team who know what they are doing.

    David Kelly would no thave allowed this

    Report abuse

  2. 2
    Swampy Saddler

    Ok, so a dapleted defence and Ince away on International duty?………..I predict goals!
    Let’s just hope we can score more than they do!!!!
    Should be entertaining!

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    Swampy Saddler

    Sorry I meant ‘depleted’!

    Report abuse

  4. 4
    don h

    David kelly would not come anyway.

    The man upstairs knows we have been short for over a year

    Report abuse

  5. 5
    sheldinho

    Johnny, how can you say that about the management team, firstly its the end of the season, so all teams have squads with injuries and are wary about letting people out on loan as not to risk there own end of season run in, secondly, might you consider we have no money to pay wages for new loan signings, theres always been an 1 out 1 in policy at Walsall, do you suggest we release one of our injured players to get someone new? Thirdly, consider the management team already know the season is over, and that to use precious funds on players to help a team come midtable is worthless, and these resources used in the close season.

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    fraggle

    Johnny is saying it cus he’s a muppet

    Report abuse

  7. 7
    Phil Burton

    Lets not kid ourselves, the reason we havent signed anyone on loan is because we’re refusing to pay the wages – we’re turning up at clubs, cap in hand, begging for a player for free.

    Report abuse

  8. 8
    Phil Burton

    When exactly is Stephen Roberts going to be back from injury? It’s really a shame non of us predicted this back when he signed isn’t it, else we wouldn’t have signed him! Durrr!

    Report abuse

  9. 9
    internationalsaddler

    Are you a Wolves fan Johnny? Sounds like the typical and idiotic ‘sack the manager’ talk we hear from the Custard Bowl.

    Report abuse

  10. 10
    Mike Andrews55

    Whats wrong with playing the youth team for the rest of the season, were safe and they would do no worse than the Bristol Rovers game or even when Jimmy Mullen was in charge

    Report abuse

  11. 11
    wfc

    walsall are safe now you dont think they are goin to splash the cash they dont do that any time.Roberts was released by doncaster cus he was never fit.

    Report abuse

  12. 12
    somersetwfc

    i dissagree with the “we have no money” statement correct me if i,m wrong but didnt we get 1.4 million a year ago for dann and fox and not 1 penny spent on players since ???

    Report abuse

  13. 13
    Tim

    We have no money, but then again very few sides in a league do. Again, not many teams in our league have massive squads. So let’s stop feeling sorry for ourselves because we are all in the same boat.
    One thing we are blessed with is a few decent youngsters. Why not give some of them a chance. I’m sure one or two are on there way to the first team anyway.
    As for you Johnny. What a stupid, stupid statement to make. What world do you live in and how out of touch are you with the club and its fans, not to mention reality. This isn’t the first time you’ve put idiotic comments on here. Just shut up if you can’t make a logical comment.

    Report abuse

  14. 14
    expat supporter

    Having read most of the above comments, it seems some of the supporters have about as much ambition as the management of this wonderful old club !

    Report abuse

  15. 15
    jeef_boner

    #12 – the money paid off some of the millions of debt we had at the time. Right now we should play the kids. They’re cheaper than some loan player and we haven’t got a pot to piddle in at the moment.

    Report abuse

  16. 16
    mattsaddler

    Maybe if more people turned out for matches we would be in a position to sign a few more players.

    Where do these people expect the money to come from it doesnt grow on trees. People should stop moaning ive been a season ticket holder for 10 yrs or so and am always going to support them no matter what its a shame there arnt more like me out there.

    Report abuse

  17. 17
    Mike

    Bet JB loves your sort mattsadler, another 6,000 like you and all his pension/company worries would be solved overnight

    Report abuse

  18. 18
    peter

    Mattsaddler son of JB lol

    Report abuse

  19. 19
    chrisbenfield

    16. There still wasn’t any money when we were getting 7-8000 back in the days of Old Division one football so where’s your arguement?

    Report abuse



Free e-Supplements

Business Awards

Book a Business Awards table Book a Business Awards table

Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now

Lifestyle

Interactive Dining Out map Interactive Dining Out map

Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.

entertainment

All the film reviews All the film reviews

Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases

OUR NEW APP

Get the new E&S app Get the new E&S app

Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.