Clayton McDonald ruled out for season

Walsall skipper Andy Butler today hailed Clayton McDonald after the defender was ruled out for the rest of the season with a dislocated shoulder.

The centre-back tried to play on after falling awkwardly in the second half of Saturday's 3-1 loss to League One champions Brighton.

He was eventually replaced in the 69th minute by Oliver Lancashire and Butler insisted McDonald's efforts epitomised the spirit in the Saddlers' camp.

"It's a do-or-die cause. Clayton said in an interview last week 'step up or go away' - he's got a massive heart on him and he's willing to put his body on the line for the cause," he said.

"He's worked hard in training to get himself back in the position and it's disappointing for him to get the injury.

"I headed the ball out and he stayed on, I was like 'what's going on here?' He did well to try to stay on and he's done well in the two games since he's come back in. He hadn't played since November so fair play to him."

McDonald confirmed the diagnosis on his Twitter page – news which was compounded by Emmanuel Ledesma's straight red card which lands him with a three game ban.

Results elsewhere kept Walsall fifth bottom in League One, out of the drop zone on goal difference, and Butler admitted the Saddlers can afford to write the defeat off.

He said: "It's disheartening to lose any game but with the results it's worked out as a freebie. "Brighton have come here at the top of the league and looking around at other teams they have hard games.

"We can take heart from not being back in the relegation zone but we've still got to go out and pick up three points from every other game.

"Brighton are a good team and fully deserve to win the league."

Meanwhile, the Saddlers are holding a free opening training session tomorrow at the Banks's Stadium.

The first-team squad will be on show for fans with turnstiles open at 10am ahead of the hour-long session which starts at 10:45am.

A kiosk will be open for refreshments and players will meet supporters after training for pictures and autographs.