Walsall vs MK Dons: Who's out and who's a doubt?

Josh Gordon made his comeback from a long-term hamstring injury on Tuesday after marking his cameo from the bench with a late consolation in Walsall's 4-2 defeat at Peterborough United in the EFL Trophy. 

The striker last featured in the league on August 31 and is not expected to start as Sadler eases him back into the first team fold but he will be available for selection. 

New signing Nathan Asiimwe, who joined on loan from League One side Charlton Athletic last week, will also be available after being cup-tied in midweek. 

But Sadler still has a number of players on the treatment table, with another added to that growing list this week. 

Here is the latest round-up from the Essington treatment room ahead of the weekend.

Ronan Maher - ankle (50%) 

Maher was an unused substitute at Peterborough after taking a step closer on his road to recovery from an ankle injury. 

The midfielder has been out since just before Christmas and was initially tipped for a lengthy spell away from the pitch. 

However, his ankle problem has healed much quicker than previously expected and he will now continue to work his way back to match fitness. 

Sadler said: "Ronan was on the bench (at Peterborough) and is ready to play now."

Donervon Daniels - calf (0%) 

Club captain Daniels has been ruled for the weekend after suffering a calf injury on Tuesday night. 

Daniels was forced off in the 23rd-minute during Walsall's 4-2 defeat at Peterborough United. 

The defender will head for a scan at the start of next week, with a time frame expected over the coming days.

Sadler said: " "Donervon took his calf on Tuesday. I don't not what that looks like but he'll be out of the game (against MK Dons). 

"We'll probably get it scanned early next week. Unfortunately it looks like he'll be out for a little bit but I'm not sure how long that'll be yet."

Jack Earing - ankle (0%) 

Earing is staring at another lengthy spell in the treatment room after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury. 

The midfielder was forced off in the 89th-minute during Walsall's 2-0 home win over Newport County at the end of 2024. 

Mat Sadler was initially unable to provide a time frame as the medical team waited for the swelling to go down but the Walsall boss confirmed last week that he is likely to miss "10 to 12 weeks". 

Sadler revealed: "Jack had surgery on his ankle. Hopefully we'll see him before the end of the season but he'll be out for a bit of time. 

"Maybe around 10 to 12 weeks, something like that. Whenever that takes us to, either into April or just before but around about that time." 

George Hall - hamstring (0%) 

Hall's rotten luck with injuries has shown no sign of ending after he suffered another setback in his recovery from his latest hamstring problem. 

The 20-year-old has not been involved since suffering the injury on the eve of Walsall's 1-0 win over Barrow last month. 

Sadler initially earmarked a potential "six to eight week" absence and confirmed that he had returned to parent club Birmingham City to continue his rehabilitation. 

However, Sadler has confirmed that Hall has since undergone an operation after visiting a consultant at Birmingham. And that is likely to consign him to the side lines for a similar period to Earing. 

"George will probably be a similar time frame to Jack," Sadler added.

"That's what we thought initially (that he'd be out for six to eight weeks) but he saw another consultant when was back at Birmingham and had a surgery on his hamstring which hopefully will provide the real answers he has needed. 

"He's another one that we're hopeful of getting back before the end of the season and nothing would please me more to see him back with us." 

Priestley Farquharson - thigh (0%) 

Farquharson suffered a setback in his recovery from a thigh injury in November to add a further two months on to his long spell on the side lines. 

The defender, who has been out since August, was initially targeting a return after the New Year. 

He had gone as far as participating in the warm-ups in training but was ruled out until March after going to consult a specialist.

Farquharson suffered a setback on his road to recovery from a thigh injury which has kept him out since August. 

Sadler issued an update on his road to recovery, stating that he is still on course for his return date and that his injury is healing as expected.

The Walsall boss said: "Priestley is coming along in his recovery. We're probably looking at another couple of months still but the hope is that we see him before the end of the season and that's what we're all pushing towards. 

"That's exactly what he is fixed for. We had some good news that he has healed in the way that it needs to so he'll start to build-up over the weeks go on."