Walsall have taken Everton youngster John Ruddy on loan for a month as cover for the injured Andy Oakes.

Ruddy is 18 and started his career at Cambridge United, where he made 43 appearances, before moving to Goodison Park last season. Everton let him stay at Cambridge for the remainder of the season, where he played a part in their relegation fight.

He’s 6′4″ and is a team mate of Matt Fryatt, being the current England Under-19 keeper.

“He is a talented young lad who won’t let us down,” said Paul Merson on the official web site. “It’s a weight off my mind to have him here because we have two tough games coming up in a short space of time where we need a big presence in goal and he will give us that. He is very highly-rated within the game and I am delighted to have him here initially for a month.”