Andrew Davies injury a blow for Walsall

Walsall were today hit with a hammer blow after star Andrew Davies was ruled out for a month - cutting short his loan spell.

The Stoke defender has a three-quarters of a centimetre tear in his thigh muscle and will not play for the Saddlers - who go to Huddersfield on Saturday - again before his loan expires on November 7.

He limped out of last weekend's dismal 4-1 defeat to Tranmere and boss Chris Hutchings confirmed the diagnosis this morning, but is hopeful of re-signing him after treatment.

He said: "It will take three to four weeks before he recovers again, which is a blow. His loan is up in 10 days' time so he'll be getting his rehab here and we'll see how he progresses.

"I've been in contact with Stoke to put them in the picture and if we can extend that loan when he's fit again it will be something we'll be looking to do.

"With Jon (Whitney, physio) saying three to four weeks and his loan up in 10 days we don't want to waste 10 days by sending him back.

"We'll take him up to the end of the loan which is November 7 and if he's not quite right he'll be going back to them and then we'll look to re-sign him if that's the scenario."

Under-fire Hutchings is now on the lookout for further reinforcements but conceded new arrivals are unlikely before Walsall's trip to the Galpharm Stadium in 48 hours.

He said: "It may be too soon. We're waiting on phone calls but the nearer you get to the weekend you want to do some shape work regarding the team you're going to play.

"It's very difficult getting players in.

"People think it's easy and that you just pick up the phone to clubs and they let you have them. That's not the case.

"We're working extremely hard to get one or two players in and the chairman has allowed us to do that."

But the boss has put any plans to extend Martin Devaney's loan from Barnsley on hold until after the crunch clash with the Terriers.