Walsall boss could loan out starlets

Manager Dean Smith has refused to rule out sending his Walsall starlets on loan – but only if absolutely essential.

The Saddlers boss said they will stay put unless a spell away from the Banks's Stadium will benefit them.

Smith re-entered the club into the reserve league this term, meaning first-year professionals Jake Jones, Connor Deards and Joey Butlin will feature regularly.

He is keen to keep them at the Banks's to monitor their development but admitted, if the time was right, he would send them out.

"If I feel the need for the younger lads to go on loan they will do. If they need to play a few more games then that's what we'll do, definitely," he said.

"But we've entered the reserve league so they'll be getting regular games here. We've got the League Cup final against Sunderland, which has carried over from last year, and Stoke in the first month so there's a couple of games for the younger lads there."

The trio will find it harder to break into the first team squad with Smith only able to name five substitutes after the Football League reduced the number from seven over the summer.

Smith joined Notts County's Martin Allen in questioning the decision.

He said: "Most of us were in the dark about it. It's done and dusted so you get on with it."