Walsall's Sam Mantom playing through pain

Mantom, the last campaign's Player of the Season, has been sidelined with a knee ligament injury since early July.

The midfielder appeared close to a return when he appeared as a substitute in the final pre-season friendly against Villa, but according to Smith has since suffered several 'knock-backs'.

Now the manager believes the 22-year-old former West Brom man needs to play through the pain barrier to complete his return.

"It's been frustrating for all of us, none more so than for Sam himself," said Smith.

"He is doing everything – training and kicking the ball with his left foot but every so often he has just felt it when he has used his right.

"He's had the scan and it has shown the structure of the knee is sound and there is not much to worry about, so he is going to have to go and play through the pain barrier a little bit to get back into it."

He added: "You just don't know with this type of injury, you can't feel anybody else's pain so it is a tough one. But it is one Sam has got to come through."

Mantom will not be involved in this afternoon's League One game at Leyton Orient with Billy Clifford again set to partner Adam Chambers in the middle of the park.

And Smith admits the form of Clifford means Mantom is not guaranteed an instant recall to the first team when he regains full fitness.

"I said at the start of the season there would be competition for places all round and none more so than in that position," he said.

"Billy has come in and is still not as fit as we want him, and he has to get some under-21 habits out, which he will do. He is learning all the time."

The manager has already had to deal with more players on the treatment table than across the whole of last season but was able to welcome back James O'Connor for this afternoon's game.

Ben Purkiss is back in training and could feature in Tuesday night's Capital One Cup tie with Crystal Palace, while Smith is also hopeful of a swift return for James Chambers following his hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, Walsall are remindinf fans that the Tile Choice Stand Upper and Middle Tiers will be closed for the game against managerless Palace.

Admission prices have been set at £12 (adults) and £6 (concessions) for all areas of the stadium.