Door open for Darren Carter

Darren Carter today left the door open for a permanent switch to Walsall.

The former Albion midfielder is training with the Saddlers after boss Dean Smith invited his long-term target to Essington.

Carter cannot sign this season with the registration window for players closed so is unable to help the Saddlers in their League One survival bid which continues at home to Tranmere tomorrow.

But he admitted he would not rule out a move to the Saddlers once window re-opens.

He said: "I won't write anything off. Getting a groin injury at the start of this season was the worst thing that could have happened to me, as I didn't have a club.

"But it has given me the ideal chance to get myself fully fit at my own pace and I feel great now.

"Next season I will be open to all possibilities. It will be a case of seeing what is out there in the summer, assessing what my options are and deciding what is the best thing for me."

Carter has recovered from six months out with a groin injury which wrecked his season after being released by Preston last summer.

And he praised Saddlers chief Smith for keeping in touch with him throughout his lay-off.

"The gaffer has been great. He spoke to my agent before I got injured and he has kept in touch all the way along to see how I was progressing," said Carter, who made 67 appearances for Albion between 2005 and 2007.

"He invited me to come into training this week and I got a good 45 minutes for the reserves on Wednesday (a 2-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest). Now I will just have to talk to

Dean some more over the next few days and see where he wants to go with things."

Carter has trained with the Saddlers this week and boss Smith believes the move was ideal for both parties.

He said: "It's a great opportunity for both of us – for him to get his fitness up and maybe get himself a contract – and for us to have a look at him and see where he's at.

"Having him in possibly does (gives Walsall an edge for his signature) but if my coaching is rubbish he might not enjoy it."