Ben Purkiss feels ready after Walsall run-out

The 30-year-old also believes he is just days away from being ready for first-team football, after playing for 45 minutes for the Saddlers reserves against Port Vale yesterday - his first action since early July.

Purkiss had been sidelined since twisting his ankle on the opening day of the club's pre-season tour in Devon but, after a lengthy and sometimes frustrating recovery, he's convinced the end is almost near.

He said: "Things are progressing nicely. I probably could have played for longer yesterday but it was just a case of going for 45 minutes, letting it adapt today and then going again.

"If I keep progressing like I am then I feel like I'm days away from being ready for a competitive game.

"It was really good to play. I was delighted to be back.

"Prior to the game I was thinking, what do I do? I almost couldn't remember the last time I had played.

"It was against Wigan in pre-season and I felt ever so good to get out there. You can't replicate match practice and it was nice to be involved in a competitive game of football."

Purkiss looks set to be the first of several players to return from the treatment room but expects James Chambers, Jordan Cook and Sam Mantom will not be far behind.

The defender described the Saddlers injury crisis a "unbelievable".

"It has got to the point where we have had to have individual appointment times to come in because the volume of people in the physio room," he said.

"But what we do have in (physio) Jon Whitney is someone who is very knowledgeable both in term of his injury treatment and also his way of rehabilitating people.

"When they do come back they are not going to be far off and I think hopefully now people will start coming back at the same time.

"As it stands I'm probably a couple of days ahead of the others but it is only a couple of days."

Two goals from Chris Birchall condemned the Saddlers second string to a 2-1 defeat, Kyle Rowley netting the consolation.