Saddlers bid to extend deal for Cuvelier

Walsall will step up talks with Stoke today over extending Florent Cuvelier's loan after the Belgian played a crucial part in their victory over Wycombe.

The teenage midfielder was a key figure as the Saddlers ended a seven-match winless run with a 2-0 success over Wanderers at the Banks's Stadium on Saturday.

And boss Dean Smith is keen to extend the 19-year-old midfielder's loan, which is currently set to end at the weekend.

"We will be in talks with Stoke to see if we can extend it and we'll take it from there," said Smith, who takes his side to Scunthorpe tomorrow.

"I have spoken to him and I believe he would like to stay because it's a chance of regular football for him."

Cuvelier and home-grown youngster Jamie Paterson were the creative forces behind a win that saw Smith's men leapfrog Wanderers but they triumphed despite Alex Nicholls having a second penalty saved in as many matches.

And the striker has now stood down from penalty duties with Smith set to select a new 'deputy' to regular taker Jon Macken.

"He was brave enough to want to take it and he had been practising penalties all day on Friday," said Smith.

"But you can never rehearse them properly. I was a penalty taker myself and I missed two on the spin so I know how he's feeling.

"There is no blame apportioned to him. He has said he is going to step aside as penalty taker. Jon Macken has been our regular penalty taker but Alex took one at Carlisle not long ago and put it in the corner.

"I don't see any reason why one penalty miss should take you off them."