Dean Smith vows to get Walsall a new striker

The Saddlers boss sees a centre-forward as the final piece of the jigsaw after a summer spent rebuilding his forward line.

But after appearing close to a deal on several occasions, another week seems set to pass without Smith snaring his man.

The boss says the club are staying patient and covering all bases in their search and remains confident a deal will be done before the transfer window closes.

"You can't always say let's go and get a certain player because I have seen too many times it falls through," said Smith, who is looking at both permanent and loan possibilities.

"You have to have all bases covered and that is what we are trying to do.

"There have been calls in yesterday, calls in this morning and that is what we are trying to do.

"Hopefully something will happen but unfortunately you just have to wait and be patient.

"We are no closer than after the game on Tuesday but I will have someone in before the window closes, that is for sure."

The Saddlers head to Leyton Orient tomorrow aiming to secure their first league win. Smith believes they have deserved to take more from the opening three games and says it is a question of getting the basics right.

"As long as players are getting in positions to score goals that is the main thing, the other side of it is we have to be more clinical," he said.

"Against Yeovil on Tuesday we didn't play anywhere near where we can but we had plenty of chances.

"We just need to start converting them.

"The one thing I said to (assistant boss) Richard O'Kelly after the game is how have we only got two points from three games?

"I feel we deserved more. We aren't doing too much wrong if we feel we deserved more. "The most important thing is getting the basics right."

Right-back James O'Connor is back in contention for a starting place after shaking off a groin injury, though Dean Holden is again likely to deputise for centre-back James Chambers (hamstring).