Walsall have a right-back conundrum - could Roman Dixon be the solution?

Right-back has emerged as a possible weak link in this Walsall team.

Lee Grant finished the summer transfer window with three: Elicha Ahui, Rico Browne and Roman Dixon.

Ahui has been the preferred choice, starting nine of the Saddlers’ 13 league fixtures so far this term. Yet he has not been particularly convincing, even if he has shown glimpses of his power and quick recovery runs.

The 22-year-old has been caught out positionally at times and has also struggled with his discipline of late. He was sent off for a cynical pull back on last-man Favour Fawumni in the 3-0 home win over Oldham Athletic and conceded a penalty to gift Colchester United an equaliser in a 3-1 victory in Essex.

Grant has tried to rotate in that area: Declan Skura was deployed at right back for the draws against Fleetwood and Swindon, and deputised there again during Ahui’s suspension in the 4-2 defeat to League Two leaders Salford City.

But Skura has been one of the standout performers in the centre of the defence alongside James Connolly, who looks much more comfortable when partnering Skura rather than Ryan Leak.

Meanwhile, Browne was deemed surplus requirements and sent on loan to National League side Woking until January. Grant has not ruled out the prospect of Browne featuring in his plans once his loan expires, but Walsall will be hoping that Dixon can be the solution.

Dixon was always playing catch-up when he arrived at the club between the end of pre-season and their league opener at Gillingham.

The ex-Everton product debuted from the bench at half-time and impressed in a 3-0 victory at the Priestfield Stadium. But Dixon then spent the best part of two months battling with a calf injury and was forced off 18 minutes into his short-lived comeback in the EFL Trophy against Stevenage in late September.

His return was one of the positive storylines from the defeat at Leicester City on Tuesday night. Dixon came through 62 minutes unscathed and will now have 10 days to prepare for the trip to York City. That extended break (due to international call-ups for Barnet) will provide him with a window to recover and put himself in contention for a starting place.

If he can begin to string together a series of starts and nail down his place then Walsall might well have an answer to their problems from within. But his past injury record suggests Walsall should still be on their guard and that a new right-back needs to be on the priority list for January.