Liam Dickinson to the rescue for Saddlers

Liam Dickinson was today set to answer Walsall's striker SOS after confirming he wants to stay with the Saddlers.

The Barnsley loanee's deal expires after Saturday's showdown with Oldham and boss Chris Hutchings has already admitted he is keen on extending it.

The Saddlers are already without the crocked Darren Byfield, Jon Macken and Reuben Reid and handed a full debut to teenager Will Grigg in the weekend's 1-0 FA Cup defeat at Torquay.

But Dickinson, who is yet to score in seven outings, has paved the way for another loan to help rock bottom Walsall fight against the drop.

"It's one step at a time, it's early days and with the situation the club is in we have to take it game by game but I'd be more than happy to stay," he said.

"With Macka and Reuben out that puts me back in the limelight and gives me a chance. I have my fitness back, I'm feeling sharp and hopefully I can help the boys out and contribute a few goals.

"I feel at home here, the staff have all be welcoming, the lads are all decent and the banter is flying around which is great."

The Saddlers have won just three times in their last 19 games and are the joint-lowest scorers in League One with just 17 goals.

And Dickinson is desperate to find the net and expects it to happen sooner rather than later.

He said: "Definitely, I came close with a header against Sheffield Wednesday but it's a bit frustrating and once the first one comes the rest will follow.

"We have got a great combination on the wings, Matt's (Richards) technique and Alex's (Nicholls) pace and Richard (Taundry) bombing on, so you have service all over the park.

That's ideal for a striker and we need to put our chances away.

"If we keep the mentality we've got at the moment we can do it and we can start winning games."

Meanwhile, the club are still hoping Saturday's game goes ahead with temperatures set to fall to minus six on Friday night.

They currently have covers on the pitch – which protect the surface down to minus three – and are likely to have an inspection on Friday.