Double raid as Saddlers swoop

Walsall were today set to complete a stunning double raid for George Boateng and Frank Nouble.

The pair have penned deals to help the Saddlers in their relegation fight with just 13 games to go. Ex-Villa midfielder Boateng joins from Nottingham Forest while England under-19 striker Nouble has signed from West Ham.

Boss Dean Smith has been hunting new recruits and, with the Saddlers back in the League One drop zone after Saturday's 1-1 at Leyton Orient, has made his move.

Boateng is out of favour at the City Ground and has played just seven times – the last in Forest's 4-0 FA Cup hammering at Leicester in January – since signing under ex-Forest boss Steve McClaren last summer.

The 36-year-old won four caps for Holland and made 135 appearances for Villa during a three-year spell after signing for £4.5m from Coventry.

He helped Middlesbrough to the UEFA Cup final in 2006 and also played in Villa's 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in the 2000 FA Cup final.

Nouble, who had a three game loan spell at Albion in 2009-10, made his West Ham debut in their 2-0 win over Wolves in 2009.

He has played for Swindon, Swansea, Barnsley and Charlton and scored five goals in 13 appearances on loan at League Two outfit Gillingham this season.

The 20-year-old, a former Chelsea trainee, has one goal in 19 games – six starts – for the Hammers and has played five times for them this season.

He can play on either flank or as a central striker and the Saddlers are keen to boost their striking options, having scored just 31 goals in 33 League One games.

Meanwhile, Oliver Lancashire revealed his delight at opening his Walsall account with a 94th minute header at Leyton Orient.

The 23-year-old rescued a point at the death against the 10-man O's, who had Solomon Tawio sent off in the first half.

"It was about time I scored for Walsall and to get it in the last minute means it's a good point," he said.

but it was quite a frustrating game," said the former Southampton defender.

"I've played about 50 odd games now so it was about time I got a goal and hopefully they can come like the buses."