Walsall down to bare bones for Swansea LDV trip

Last updated : 23 January 2006 By Andy Van Hagen
Walsall are struggling to field a senior XI for our first visit to Swansea's impressive new Liberty Stadium.

We will be without Kevin James and Michael Leary who are both cup-tied having played for Nottingham Forest and Bristol Rovers prior to their Bescot arrival. New Signing Paul Devlin picked up a Calf injury at Chesterfield at the weekend. Ian Roper and Simon Osborn are both out with the hamstring injuries that they picked up in the FA Cup win over Barnsley. Joe Murphy's loan spell has run out, so he has returned to Sunderland.

The exodus of players has not helped. Kris Taylor, Daryll Taylor, Steve Staunton, Joe Broad, Julian Bennett and Matty Fryatt have all left in January.

Andy Oakes will return in the place of Joe Murphy. James Constable will play alongside Mads Timm. Constable of course turned Swansea down earlier in the season, favouring a Walsall move. Alex Nicholls and Taiwo Ateino could be set for a place on the bench while Mark Kinsella should start in the place of Leary. Michael Standing will be favourite to take the place of the injured Paul Devlin.

Ruben Dario Larossa travelled with the squad to Chesterfield and could now be in line for a squad place. He has been struggling with injury but is now in contension. Walsall are crying out for a striker at the moment but the Argentine has failed to impress so far this season. The LDV might be a ideal chance to see if he can take the role of finisher since Fryatts departure. The striker has been described as the best finisher at the club by Merson. In recent games Walsall have created chance after chance but have lacked the killer touch up front. Larossa has struggledso far but it might be worth trying him out in the new team.

The game will be live on Radio WM 95.6FM.