Walsall boss Chris Hutchings has admitted he would be a fool not to extend striker Darren Byfield’s contract.

The 33-year-old’s short-term deal runs out at the end of January, with the Saddlers holding an option to extend it until the end of the season.

Byfield has netted five times since his August return to the club and Hutchings confirms an extension is probable.

He said: “We’ve got an option on whether we take him up and if he continues to score goals it looks likely we will do, we’d be fools not to.

“Darren is pretty much a natural finisher, he works hard at his game and when chances come along you normally want them to fall to him.”

The player has been going through a public divorce with pop star wife Jamelia but scored in the 2-0 win over Stockport last weekend to earn praise from his boss.

Hutchings insists he isn’t surprised with the impact Byfield, who scored 17 goals in 92 Walsall appearances between 2000 and 2002, has made in his second spell with the Saddlers.

The manager said: “It doesn’t surprise me, but he’s got to maintain it. I knew what he was all about, he’s always scored goals at a decent level and that’s what we’ve got him for.

“He’s elusive, he’s a good trainer and others should learn from him because he makes good runs, he retains the ball and he scores goals.\

“It was a great example last week of clinical finishing and, when you’re in those positions, you need a cool head to stick the ball away.”