Fitness tests for Walsall FC forward Milan Lalkovic
Walsall were today assessing the fitness of forward Milan Lalkovic ahead of tomorrow's clash with struggling Carlisle.
The 21-year-old has arrived back at the club's Essington training ground having spent the past few days at parent club Chelsea, receiving treatment on the hamstring strain which ruled him out of last weekend's 1-0 home defeat to Bristol City.
Saddlers boss Dean Smith revealed the injury is not to the same hamstring which forced Lalkovic to also miss playing time at the end of last month and admitted the club will only find out today whether he is ready for a return to competitive action.
"It's a different leg," said Smith. "It's a different one to last time so it depends on how bad it is.
"He has had extensive treatment down there but we won't know too much until Jon Whitney has touched base with their physio at Chelsea to discover the extent and how good his recovery is."
Smith conceded the Slovakian under-21 international may be fatigued near the end of what is his first full season of senior football. Lalkovic has scored six goals this term and recently talked of his desire to finish the campaign with a flourish.
Potential
With just four games and a little over a fortnight of the season remaining, he will be hoping for a swift return.
"Milan has fitted in really well right from the off when he came in, his first pre-season game at Alfreton," added Smith. "He fitted in well with the players and has shown real glimpses of potential and excellence.
"There have been a couple of performances when he has not been as good but that is down to him getting his consistency levels. It's his first full season."
Lalkovic is Smith's only injury concern ahead of the game with Graham Kavanagh's side, who currently lie in the relegation zone.
"They are scrapping away in the bottom seven or eight who seem to be involved in a relegation battle so they will be all out and scrapping to get the win," added Smith. "But we need points as well and we want to finish as high as we can and get as many points as we can."
It's our duty as professionals to go and do the right thing."
