Reuben Reid told to prove his worth

Walsall manager Chris Hutchings has called on Reuben Reid to prove his worth with the Saddlers and stop trading on his potential.

The Albion loanee has been axed for the last three games after struggling to build on his promising start.

Reid is still the club's four-goal top scorer but has only found the net once in his last nine outings, a run which has coincided with the Saddlers' slump to the bottom of League One.

Hutchings signed Liam Dickinson on a month's loan from Barnsley to solve the Saddlers' goalscoring woes – they have netted just 15 times in League One, the second lowest in the division.

But now the manager, under pressure after just three wins in 18 games this season, wants Reid to start performing.

He said: "Reuben has still got a lot to learn, he can do so much more and that's what we've got to get out of him.

"We often hear he's got talent but you need the desire and workrate and everything else to go with that quality.

"He's come from West Brom and worked extremely hard when he was at Rotherham to get an opportunity to go to a bigger club - that's what he's got to do here.

"He's got to work extremely hard and put everything into practice to get back into the picture at West Brom or go someone else."

Reid's loan expires in January and he has already expressed a desire to stay with his chances at the Hawthorns likely to be limited in the extreme.

And Hutchings reckons the 22-year-old has yet to hit top gear but must not let his head drop after losing his place.

He said: "There's more to come from him. In his first game he did very well, then he scored a few goals but got injured, so he's got to maintain his workrate and the goals will come.

"Reuben has had chances, he's missed one or two but he's got to keep getting there and if he does he'll score goals."