Walsall to bring in Josh Ginnelly replacement

The Saddlers travel to take on Charlton tomorrow as they bid to make a flying start to 2019.

But Dean Keates has confirmed it will be a busy morning at the Banks’s Stadium with the boss set to make his first signing of the January window.

Ginnelly will also leave the club after the Saddlers agreed an undisclosed fee with Preston for the 21-year-old.

It is understood Ginnelly has been training with Lillywhites ever since news of his transfer broke earlier this month.

But Keates revealed he moved quickly to replace the winger after the bid was accepted.

“We will have one or two additions coming in January and we’ve already got one done,” Keates said.

“There’s one that’s going out and we’ve got one ready to come straight in.

“On what’s going out, we’ve covered our bases and there’s a new addition ready to come into the group.”

On Ginnelly Keates said: “It’s been highlighted, he’s not been involved in the squad in the last few weeks.

“We’ve had a concrete bid, it’s all been accepted, everything’s in place and he will join the club he is going to, as of the first of January.”

Meanwhile, Keates said he will continue to explore playing with a midfield diamond after the system worked so well against Luton on Saturday.

The boss opted to match the Hatters man-for-man with Joe Edwards making his first start for nine months after recovering from a serious knee injury.

And Keates said the return of the vice-skipper has given him something to think about.

“Joe Edwards coming back gives us something,” the boss continued.

“He got through 90 minutes against Luton, which if I’m entirely honest I didn’t expect.

“But credit to Joe, he has been in a few dark places over the past year.

“But he has given me something to think about going forward and we will also have one or two additions coming in in January.”