Young reserve striker Alex Nicholls, recently recovered from a broken leg, became an injury worry again this afternoon.

Nicholls was stretchered off in the reserves 2 - 0 win at Coventry, but the club are now indicating that the injury is not serious and may just be severe bruising. The game was a behind the scenes friendly, in which new signing Geordie Lyall made his debut as an official Walsall player.

In the game, Par Cederquist continued his impressive start, scoring the first and making the second for Manny Smith. Tommy Taylor and former Villa youngster Colin Marshall also figured.

Marshall is is a midfielder and began his career with Villa, for whom he won the FA Youth Cup in 2002. He spent the 2003-04 season on loan at Clyde, before being released in the summer. Over the next two seasons he had short spells at St Johnstone, Falkirk, Airdrie United, Stranraer and Dundee. He signed for Forfar at the beginning of August 2006, but left the club by mutual consent at the end of the month.

Darren Wrack, in the meantime, has given the club a boost by declaring himself fit for the festive programme.