Walsall are facing a defensive crisis which could force boss Chris Hutchings into the loan market.

Clayton McDonald limped out of Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at MK Dons with a groin injury, leaving the Saddlers with just two fit centre-backs.

The club will know the extent of the damage in the next 24 hours, but McDonald could miss the weekend’s visit of Exeter.

Hutchings said: “It could be a week or 10 days, but until we get the scan back we won’t really know until today or Tuesday.

“Our physio Jon Whitney was saying it was grade one, which is the lowest, so that’s good news.”

Manny Smith, who replaced McDonald in the second half, and Mark Hughes are the only two fit central defenders in the squad, following Stephen Roberts’ retirement last week.

Hutchings admits, if they get injured this week, he will have to make a loan signing.

He said: “We’ll have to delve in then. We’ll tread very carefully in training but we’re not looking at it in a negative way, people get injured in training so we’ll have to wait and see.

“If Clayton is going to be long term, it’s something we’re going to have to look at.”

But the Saddlers chief insists he will not be forced to make signings for the sake of it, knowing Hughes and Smith are a solid partnership.

The manager said: “We have always got the option, but we can’t be too disheartened in the way we performed on Saturday.

“Manny came on and had nearly 45 minutes and he needed that so at least we had cover.”

Smith has wished the Manchester City loanee well, despite the injury giving him a route back into the first team.

He said: “It’s disappointing to see Clayton come off. He’s  been playing well. Hopefully he’s not out for too long.”

The Saddlers slipped to 14th in League One after their defeat at stadium:mk thanks to Jermaine Easter’s first half winner.

The visitors saw Darren Byfield twice go close before he hit the bar after the break and Hutchings is refusing to be disheartened after their second consecutive away defeat.

He said: “Both sides threatened a lot but without having that killer instinct in front of goal. Sometimes when you are going well it drops to your man and it’s in the net.

“When it’s not going quite so well it goes the other way, but we’ll keep battling on and I’m sure we’ll have our day.”