Walsall triple injury update revealed as contract deadline looms

Darren Byfield has confirmed Walsall trio Rico Browne, Priestley Farquharson and Brandon Comley were struggling with injury ahead of their final day defeat at Bromley on Saturday.

Farquharson and Browne were absent from the squad due to respective knee and foot issues - although the latter did travel to Hayes Lane.

Comley, who was nursing a knee problem during the last fortnight of the season, was on the bench but did not get introduced.

“Some of those changes were forced. Rico has been struggling with an injury in his foot, Priestley has been struggling,” Byfield revealed.

“Brandon has been struggling as well. So there have been a lot of injuries.

“But it’s not an excuse because we’ve just got to keep going. We’ve got a squad good enough to roll out and pick up results.”

Browne, Comley and Farquharson are among 13 players who’re out-of-contract at Walsall this summer - although the club hold an option year for the latter.

As for the released and retained list, EFL rules state that clubs must tell their players by the third Saturday in May if they want to retain them beyond their current contract.

That means this year’s deadline falls on May 16.

Comley is the longest-serving member in the current squad and has made 151 appearances for the Saddlers during his four seasons at the club.

Farquharson has seen his Walsall spell plagued by injury since joining in 2023 but scored five goals in 35 matches in all competitions in 2024-25.

Meanwhile, Browne arrived in September 2024 and had to bide his time before breaking into the first team.

He made his EFL debut in an opening day win over Swindon Town in August last year and netted once in 21 league games.

The 22-year-old made the transition to right-back by Byfield in the closing stages of the campaign and starred in seven of the final 10 matches.