Mat Sadler casts doubt over injured Walsall pair ahead of Gateshead FA Cup tie
Mat Sadler says he "won't rush" Walsall pair Harrison Burke and Aaron Pressley back from injury ahead of their FA Cup tie at Gateshead on Sunday.
Burke has been back in training for the last three weeks, but has not featured since suffering a knee injury during the Saddlers' 2-1 win over Bristol Rovers on October 4.
In total, the defender has missed 11 games in all competitions, including the last seven in League Two.
And Sadler does not expect him to be involved when Walsall travel to Tyne and Wear in the FA Cup.
"Harrison, I'm not sure on that as well, I don't think it's likely he will be playing this weekend," boss Sadler revealed.
"The pain in the knee hasn't shifted, or the latter pain of it. I'm not going to rush him basically. So not just yet."
Pressley has missed the past three games, including the back-to-back wins over Harrogate Town and Bromley respectively in the league.
The striker suffered a hamstring injury just 48 hours prior to the 2-0 win at Harrogate on November 22, although scan results revealed that the issue was not as bad as first year.
However, Pressley is still yet to return to first team training and remains a major doubt ahead of Gateshead.
"With Aaron, I'm not sure yet ahead of the weekend if I'm honest with you," he added.
"No [he is not back in training]. It's not even been a couple of weeks yet and you can't rush him with the location of the injury.
"We're lucky that it's not as bad as it we first feared but we don't want to make it worse."
Pressley has scored four goals in 17 appearances since joining Walsall from Stevenage in the summer, while Burke has netted once in nine league outings.
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