In a totally unexpected move, Walsall have sent Paul Smith back to Gillingham on loan, initially until the end of December.

The former Gillingham skipper had got off to a poor start in his Walsall career, with injury preventing him from having a proper pre season and was then thrown into the side too early by Manager Paul Merson, when still not match fit.

Lately, however, Smith has started to show the sort of form that made him a fans’ favourite at Priestfield and this news comes as a complete shock.

Keeper Target Named

Meanwhile, the Express and Star has named Merson’s goalkeeper target as 28 year old Murphy Akanji, the former Nigerian number two, currently playing for Sliema Wanderers, in Malta.

He has played for Sliema since the 2001/2002 season, moving there from Nigeria.