Manny Smith ignores doctor's orders for Walsall

Manny Smith today revealed he is defying doctor's orders to aid Walsall's survival bid and insisted he will continue to put his body on the line.

The defender admitted he is battling the pain barrier after being told to sit out the rest of the year since being KO'd against Dagenham this month. Smith was out cold – and also lost a tooth – after being kicked in the head during the Saddlers' FA Cup penalty exit to the Daggers.

He returned to net a dramatic late winner in Monday's 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday to lift the Saddlers out of the League One drop zone and insisted sitting out wasn't an option.

He said: "I went to the doctors last week and they said I wouldn't be able to play for another four or five weeks because the gum was fractured. But I can always play on – it's just a doctor's point of view. I just wanted to get on and the gaffer trusted me. I fractured my gum and broke half my tooth as well and I'm on a few pain killers but not too many.

"I'll do the same again, especially as I'm a defender. If the ball is there to be won or it's a 50-50 then I have to go in for it. If I wasn't sure about those balls then I don't think the gaffer would have played me but he knew if the ball was there I'd do it.

"Whether I lose another tooth or get knocked unconscious again it's my job at the end of the day."