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Sam Mantom closing in on Walsall return

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Midfielder Sam Mantom could return for Walsall in Tuesday's derby clash at Shrewsbury Town.

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He's close to a full recovery from the ankle sprain which has kept him out of action since mid-October.

Mantom played 70 minutes for the reserves in Wednesday's Birmingham Senior Cup defeat at Stratford Town.

Tomorrow's home game with Bradford will come too soon in his recovery, boss Dean Smith admitted the 23-year-old could return for the trip to Greenhous Meadow.

At the very least, the Saddlers boss expects Mantom to be available for the FA Cup second round tie at Chesterfield a week tomorrow.

Smith said: "It is great to have a player of Sam's calibre, ready to come back. We will have a look and see how he goes, he will do a bit after the game tomorrow and see how he is.

"He has no problem with his ankle now, he's fully fit from that. The work (physio) Jon Whitney does with the rehabilitation means players do not need as many games for getting their fitness back.

"If not Tuesday, he will certainly be ready for Chesterfield in the FA Cup."

Together with Isaiah Osbourne (knee), Mantom is the Saddlers only absentee for tomorrow's visit of the Bantams.

The hosts are looking to get back to winning ways after a frustrating week which saw them take just one point from games with Sheffield United and Swindon Town, despite enjoying the better of both.

Smith described the latter result, a 2-1 defeat, as the toughest to take of his managerial career but remains happy with performance levels.

He said: "In terms of the dominant performance we have had and some of the decisions which went against us, Swindon was very frustrating.

"We have probably played as well as we have all season in the last two games, but only got one point from it.

"It has been 38 attempts on goal, I think, in two games, which just shows you how dominant we have been. We have not come away with the wins we deserve.

"We know we can't change anything which has already been, we have to move on and we have to move on quickly.

"We have always said that and we will always do that. It's on to the next game and getting the performance."