Walsall boss closes in on his next signing
Walsall manager Dean Smith was today hoping to make another attacking signing as he expressed growing concerns over Sam Mantom's fitness.
The Saddlers chief concedes the midfielder is "touch and go" to be ready for start of the new League One campaign and has now voiced the possibility of dipping into the loan market for a temporary replacement.
Mantom has not played a single minute in pre-season as he struggles with a medial ligament strain in his right knee and the nature of the injury is such that no precise timescale can be put on his return.
Smith had hoped to field the 22-year-old during Saturday's 3-1 friendly win at Leamington.
"Sam is a bit of a worry," admitted Smith. "He is training but every so often it just opens up the knee.
"I have had a medial ligament strain myself and they are frustrating injuries to come back from.
"It is a growing concern because we are just two weeks from the start of the season.
"It's one of those where we have to decide whether to go into the market to get a loan or not.
"It is simply a question of time, he is doing all the physical work and the training, so he will be up to speed in terms of games.
"He is running games in training with his left foot alone because he is not allowed to use his right at the moment."
Smith has ruled out the possibility of any permanent signings in central midfield, as he does not want to blunt the progress of teenagers Reece Flanagan and Jake Heath, who are behind Mantom and Adam Chambers in the pecking order.
The manager must now decide whether either are ready to start alongside Chambers at Port Vale a week on Saturday or make a move into the loan market.
Smith is hopeful of bolstering his attacking options further after revealing he was due to meet a player yesterday to discuss a permanent deal. As always, the Saddlers boss was reluctant to reveal any names but stressed it was an "attack-minded" player.
Decisions will also be made today on trialists Danny Webber and Borja Ruiz – the latter of whom scored in Saturday's win at Leamington.
Forward Jordan Cook will also finally undergo a scan – which has twice been put back - to determine the seriousness of the ankle injury he sustained at Torquay earlier this month.
