A recoverable blow - What next for Walsall after Ryan Finnigan's recall
The departure of Ryan Finnigan is a blow, but not necessarily one that Walsall won't be able to recover from following his recall by Blackpool.
Finnigan is currently the Saddlers' joint-second leading scorer across all competitions this term with four goals.
Three of those came during November - including a first career brace in a 4-2 win at Newport County - as he was voted League Two player of the month.
Finnigan exit a blow, but he is replaceable
Although he has started nine of the last 10 games in the league, Finnigan has had a tendency to blow hot and cold.
At his best, Finnigan is an all-action midfielder capable of making dangerous late runs into the box and snapping into tackles at a relentless rate.
But there were a number of performances that could easily be described as passive, with his final match in a 2-0 defeat at Cambridge United on New Year's Day serving as a prime example.
It has been a loan move that has been beneficial for all parties. Finnigan has put his injury issues behind him and gained consistent playing time at Bescot.
Meanwhile, he has delivered in a number of key moments during his stay and has contributed in helping propel Walsall into the promotion mix.
A chance for others, but Walsall still need to dip into the market
The question that begs itself now is: how Mat Sadler will choose to replace him?
Courtney Clarke, Charlie Lakin and Jamie Jellis will continue to battle for a starting place in midfield, while Jake Hollman and Rico Richards have been firmly on the fringes.
