Walsall crocks will not be risked

John Schofield insist Walsall will not rush back their crocked trio to ease the Saddlers' injury crisis.

Dwayne Mattis, Stephen Roberts, Michael Ricketts are all major doubts for Saturday's trip to Huddersfield Town, while goalkeeper Clayton Ince is definitely out.

The clash with the Terriers could see the Saddlers down to just 15 senior players but assistant boss Schofield has no intention of risking losing the players for longer by hurrying their return.

He said: "They are progressing, whether or not they will be fit for Saturday we are not sure. We will not rush anyone back because, with the injuries the players have got, it is quite easy to get them back a week or ten days early and they might be set back.

"They are important and we want the players back as quickly as possible but we do not want them on a short term fix.

"We don't want to rush them back get a game, a half out of them and then we are back to square one. When they are back, they are back and going to be back for a long sustained period."

Striker Jabo Ibehre should be fit but Schofield was making no promises after the reserves' 2-1 defeat to Oldham.

Absences to key players could hand a first team chance to some of the Saddlers youngsters, after 18-year-old midfielder Richard Davies was on the bench in the win over Swindon on Saturday.

His young peers could also make their appearance in the squad sooner rather than later.

Schofield added: "Richard was on the bench because he deserved to be on the bench."