Walsall sign top-flight goalkeeper

The Tigers teenager has penned a deal to be cover for Clayton Ince, after Rene Gilmartin was ruled out for a month with a hamstring injury.

Oxley goes straight into the squad who play Colchester tomorrow, with the Saddlers aiming to reach League One's top six for the first time this season.

Boss Chris Hutchings hopes the 19-year-old will add to his squad while at the Banks's Stadium.

The manager said: "Mark is a young, emerging lad of real quality and potential. We have worked hard to be able to bring him in and he will gain plenty of valuable experience during his time here.

"He will be travelling and training with us on Friday and be on the bench for Saturday's game at Colchester."

Oxley, who has been capped by England under-18s, started his career at Rotherham before making a £150,000 switch to Hull in 2008, but is yet to make a first team appearance for the Premier League outfit.

Gilmartin limped out of last weekend's 3-0 win over Exeter and, with only 18-year-old Tim Cooney as cover for Ince, Hutchings has made a move.

The 22-year-old Irishman had started the last eight games and Hutchings has hailed his performances which helped the 11th placed Saddlers to within two points of the League One play-offs spots.

He said: "Rene's done very, very well. None of the goals we've conceded have been his fault, I don't think he could have stopped them.

"Rene kept Clayton out of the side and we all know he's a favourite and a good goalkeeper, but I've always said we need competition for places and we've certainly got that with the goalkeeping situation."

Despite admitting Ince is first choice while Gilmartin is out, Hutchings warns the 37-year-old Trinidad and Tobago international must produce the goods.

The Walsall boss said: "Clayton has the shirt but knows he has to perform. If he doesn't he knows someone else will take the opportunity. Clayton came on and handled the situation well last week and we have no worries about him."

Hutchings is sweating on the fitness of the ill Steve Jones, but is without hamstring injury victims Richard Taundry and Richard Davies ahead of the Essex clash.