Well, the little period of consecutive Saturdays with no matches has ended and, contrary to the worries expressed beforehand, the Saddlers are still sitting pretty on top of the League, three points clear of Swindon with a game in hand, and with two games in hand on the rest of the pack. It’s time to welcome a former hero back to Walsall tomorrow with a team refreshed and renewed from their break in Gran Canaria, with the new signings on board and, hopefully, with a resounding win in front of the cameras.

For the first time this season, the Saddlers will be reporting a clean bill of health, as even long term absentee Darren Wrack has been declared fit and Allan Picken did play a full part in the sessions while the team were away. That means that it is likely that only Daniel Fox will be absent, thanks to his suspension, along with Tommy Wright, returned to Barnsley.

New signings Gerodie Lyall and Par Cederqvist will be looking to play some part, but I would think it’s probable that only the Swede might start, giving a probable line up of:

Ince, Westwood, Gerrard, Roper, Taylor, Wight, Dobson, Pead, Keates, Butler, Cederqvist.

The bench is probably gong to look something like: Bossu, Dann, Lyall, Sam, Bedeau.

Back in charge at Grimsby is, of course, Saddlers legend, former star striker and manager (and still record signing) Alan Buckley. He has been out of football for a while and was bought in to try and halt Grimsby’s inexorable slide down the table. It seems he has a real job on his hands.

There isn’t any injury news from the Mariners at the moment, as you might expect on a Sunday, but one player they will certainly be missing is Tony Pulis’s son Anthony. The midfielder, who has been on loan at Blundell Park, was injured in the last game and returned to Stoke City. Former Notts County midfielder Paul Bolland missed that game, but is expected to be fit.

Old friends to look out for? Isiah Rankine has got a few goals against us over the years (including a winner at Bescot for Brentford two seasons ago), but has found goals hard to come by this term and forward Michael Reddy is a familiar name to many also. The fact that he and Rakine have just two goals between them this season says a lot about Grimsby.

Predictions?

Grimsby go into the game in 19th place, just three points clear of danger and on the back of four defeats on the bounce. Their away record is:-

Played 13, Won 2, Drawn 3 Lost 8, scoring a meagre 8 goals in the process.

Even given the Saddlers’ well known ability to cock things up in front of the cameras, it’s difficult to see anything other than a home win.