Tranmere vs Walsall preview: Reasons to be positive despite difficult start to 2026

He will also stay at Bescot alongside fellow loan pair Myles Roberts and Rico Richards while Fulham under-21s striker Aaron Loupalo-Bi has arrived on loan. 

A much-needed boost in attack

Kanu moved on to 13 goals for the season during the 4-2 defeat at Northampton in the EFL Trophy and has netted over 31 per cent of the Saddlers' tally of 32 in League Two this term. 

His goals have been instrumental in propelling Walsall into the promotion mix but the arrival of Loupalo-Bi will hopefully help shoulder the goal scoring burden. 

The 20-year-old has been extremely prolific at youth level - scoring 14 times for Fulham under-21s in all competitions this term. 

How that looks at League Two level remains to be seen, but Walsall boast a strong track record with goal scoring strikers on the loan market. 

That has been illustrated by Kanu and the likes of Nathan Lowe, Mo Faal and Freddie Draper that came before him. 

Has the January curse been lifted?

And it appears that the dreaded January curse has been lifted with Kanu staying put. There was a huge sigh of relief breathed across Walsall, especially following the recalls of Lowe and Draper in the previous two years. 

Walsall stand a chance with Kanu leading the line but they also need others to step up and be counted for between now and the end of the season. 

They have the ultimate leader in Aden Flint to do exactly that and the return of Mason Hancock should provide Walsall with another good deliver of the ball to lift some of the creative responsibility off the out-of-form Evan Weir. 

Hancock will need time to get up to speed, but will certainly benefit, along with fellow returnee Harrison Burke, for their 64-minute runouts at Northampton on Wednesday. 

Kacper Lopata also arrived on loan from Barnsley, but there are still more gaps for Walsall to plug before the end of the January window.

A big 16 days lie ahead...

A big 16 days lie ahead for Mat Sadler and his recruitment team, as they strive to finally put paid to what has felt like a never-ending January hoodoo for the club in recent years. 

Jake Hollman will not be available after suffering a hamstring injury in midweek and Harry Williams (Achilles) is currently the only long-term absentee.

An update is expected on Hollman at some stage next week once scan results reveal the severity of the issue. 

It must be said that it didn't look great. His face as soon as it happened suggested that, as did his expression when he was carried down the tunnel on a stretcher.

Opponents Tranmere have their heads comfortably above water at this stage, with a 14-point cushion separating them from the drop zone in 17th. 

Yet their 2-0 defeat at League Two leaders Bromley last weekend represented their fourth in six games, as Walsall fell eight points behind the league summit, albeit with a game in hand.