Walsall receive Florent Cuvelier boost
Walsall have been handed a boost after it was confirmed midfielder Florent Cuvelier will not require surgery on a knee injury.
The Saddlers had feared the injury-plagued Belgian might be set for another extended spell on the sidelines after being forced off early in last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Northampton.
But scans have revealed no significant damage and though Cuvelier has been ruled out of Saturday’s trip to Rochdale, boss Jon Whitney anticipates him being back sooner rather than later.
“It’s much better than we thought. It’s good news,” said Whitney. “When we saw Flo in crutches after last week we were fearing the worst.
“He’s had an MRI scan and there is no significant damage. It is definitely not surgical. He has some bone bruising and fluid in the joint which has settled down now.
“It is nothing too long-term. I spoke to Flo and we are quite happy. We are happy it was not another sucker punch. It is simply the effects of the kick he got in the game.”
Cuvelier, who suffered a serious knee injury in 2014, has made 31 appearances for the Saddlers since joining as a free agent in the summer of 2016.
Whitney will also be without Albion loanee Tyler Roberts at Rochdale, with the forward still suffering the effects of a hamstring problem. Amadou Bakayoko is suspended following his sending-off at Northampton.
