Walsall rocked by Weston injury blow

Walsall have been rocked by the news Rhys Weston will miss most of their season-defining February fixtures.

The right-back limped out of Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Charlton and scans have confirmed a two centimetre tear in his hamstring.

Weston is likely to miss at least five games this month, starting with tomorrow's visit of Bristol Rovers, as the 13th-placed Saddlers battle to keep themselves out of danger in League One.

Boss Chris Hutchings said: "He will be out for three weeks which is a blow but we can't do anything about it. If you get a two centimetre tear it's three weeks or if you have a three centimetre tear it's four weeks. You usually give it an extra week."

But Hutchings has ruled out drafting in an emergency right-back on loan to cover Weston's absence when the window reopens on Tuesday, with Richard Taundry and Darryl Westlake available to fill the breach.

The manager said: "It's not a priority at this moment in time. We've got that option to change if we need to, but it's not as if we're bare in that position so we're covered."

Westlake replaced 29-year-old Weston on Tuesday and will have another chance to build on his impressive outing tomorrow.

Hutchings has been managing the 18-year-old carefully since his debut in August but has been delighted with his progress.

He said: "Darryl came into the side and did excellently. We think very highly of him, he had a run in the side earlier in the season, there was a time I felt we had to take him out and then he had a taster the other week.

"It's another opportunity for him. He's only 18-years-old and he's learning."

But the Saddlers have been boosted with the news Manny Smith has returned to training, after shaking off the thigh injury which kept him out in midweek.

Mark Hughes and Peter Till are also in contention to face the Pirates after ankle knocks, but Steve Jones will again miss out with his groin injury.

Hutchings said: "Till is sore but should be OK for the weekend and Manny will be joining in today, so should Hughesy.

"Jonah is getting there, we're working him reasonably hard but it's day-by-day."