Walsall v Swindon preview

Team news for Saturday's League One clash between Walsall and Swindon at the Banks's Stadium.

Walsall will again be without Florent Cuvelier, Andy Taylor and Ben Purkiss. All three missed Tuesday's abject 4-1 home defeat to Scunthorpe with hamstring injuries and, worryingly, will not make it back in time for the visit of Paolo Di Canio's promotion-chasing Robins. Forward Febian Brandy also missed the midweek encounter with a knock and remains a huge doubt. That leaves manager Dean Smith with very little room for manoeuvre after such a poor performance. Will Grigg, Ashley Hemmings and Paul Downing are the only real options available should Smith look to make changes to his starting XI, with the Saddlers winless in nine games and now within just five points of the bottom four. Swindon boss Paolo Di Canio is keen to strengthen his midfield before Saturday's trip to Walsall after Tommy Miller was ruled out for six weeks. The 33-year-old has missed the Robins' last two games after he damaged fibres in his leg during the Capital One Cup defeat to Aston Villa and the former Huddersfield man's absence leaves Di Canio with just Simon Ferry and 17-year-old Louis Thompson in the middle of the park. And with Swindon's transfer embargo having been lifted the Italian is targeting at least one new signing in that position. "Already it was the plan to bring in a central midfield player, now if it is possible even two," he told the Swindon Advertiser. "Already it was the plan before, when we had Tommy and Louis and Simon Ferry fit. The people should not think now that Louis Thompson can play regular football every game, every three days. Alan McCormack, Alan Navarro, Fede Bessone will miss out again while loanee John Bostock went back to Tottenham for treatment on his groin injury. Aden Flint is suspended.