Chris Hutchings eyes Walsall January swoops

Walsall boss Chris Hutchings today confirmed he is primed for a January transfer raid, but warned new arrivals are not certain.

The Saddlers chief is eager to add to his squad to aid their relegation battle.

The second-bottom Saddlers are five points from safety in League One and need reinforcements but, while ready to swoop, Hutchings is cautious.

"We're in a position to go into the market so we'll have to wait and see," he said today, ahead of Saturday's visit of Notts County.

"Sometimes when you're not doing well you're looking to bring players in to try to change it around but it's difficult.

"People think you can just go and get them - it's not that easy.

"You could want a player from a particular club and they could have some injuries and that scuppers it.

"There are lots of scenarios which come into play in signing a player and it's not always easy."

The Saddlers run the risk of being priced out of deals by inflated January fees but Hutchings remained philosophical about the window.

He said: "It's here and we have to deal with it. Do I like it?

"It's six of one and half a dozen of the other really, but it's here and if we had five or six injuries it would be a welcome thing."

Hutchings has to make decisions on the future of Albion loanee and six-goal top scorer Reuben Reid, whose deal expires next week, and also whether to offer Jimmy Walker a new deal.

Keeper Walker is currently out with a hamstring injury and his short-term contract expires at the end of next month.

He will miss the County game and Monday's Peterborough trip but Hutchings is hopeful of a swift return, with skipper Darren Byfield also recovering from a knee injury.

Hutchings added: "Jimmy is going to do a little work and step up his handling next week and progress from then.

"Darren (Byfield) was training on the grass today and, after the injection he had a couple of weeks ago, it's about monitoring the day-to-day work."