Walsall v Leyton Orient preview

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Ben Purkiss will miss Walsall’s home clash with Leyton Orient through suspension.

The right-back was sent off for a second bookable offence in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Rotherham and serves a one-match ban, with Paul Downing set to deputise.

Dean Holden will also watch from the sidelines as he continues to work his way back from the knee injury picked up in training at the start of February.

Walsall’s play-off hopes have faded after a run of nine games without a victory.

Leyton Orient will check on Mathieu Baudry ahead of the trip to face Walsall.

French defender Baudry has missed the last four matches, including last weekend’s 1-0 defeat by promotion rivals Brentford, due to a hamstring injury but is close to returning.

If Baudry does come in at centre-half, Scott Cuthbert will revert to full-back with Gary Sawyer the man likely to drop to the bench.

Goalkeeper Jamie Jones is the only definite injury absentee with his long-term back problem so Hull loanee Eldin Jakupovic keeps his place between the posts.

Walsall v Leyton Orient preview

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Adam Chambers has failed to recover in time to face former club Leyton Orient as Walsall look to continue their impressive start to the season.

The midfielder has been missing for over a month with a hamstring injury and had hoped to be fit by now, but a setback in his recovery means he will again sit out against his old employers.

Twin brother James has also been sidelined for a similar period with a thigh problem and the full-back remains a couple of weeks away from his return.

Back-up goalkeeper Jimmy Walker (thigh) continues to watch from the sidelines, but manager Dean Smith has no new injury or suspension problems.

Smith guided the sixth-placed Saddlers to their fifth league victory of the season on Saturday as they saw off Bournemouth 2-1 late on at Dean Court.

And his side will be aiming for a third successive win when they entertain a mid-table Orient outfit winless in two.

Anthony Griffith returns to the Leyton Orient squad.

Griffith missed Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Doncaster through suspension after he was sent off the week before at Crewe.

Fellow midfielder Martin Rowlands will be handed a late fitness test.

The former QPR man was rated 50/50 for the weekend due to a hamstring problem but was not passed fit.

Manager Russell Slade will be hoping to reunite his first-choice midfield pairing after they were badly missed as Orient slipped to their first defeat in five matches.

Full-back Lloyd James and striker David Mooney were on the bench on Saturday after their recent lay-offs but centre-half Scott Cuthbert (hamstring) and goalkeeper Jamie Jones (shoulder) are still on the sidelines.

Walsall v Leyton Orient preview

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Walsall will check on defender Aaron Lescott.

The full-back was forced off due to a knock in the 91st minute of Saturday’s goalless draw at relegation rivals Swindon and will be assessed before the O’s come to town.

Otherwise, manager Dean Smith again has a fully-fit squad at his disposal and will keep changes to a minimum.

The Saddlers boss made just one switch at the County Ground from the side who beat Southampton last Tuesday, on-loan midfielder Marc Antoine Gbarssin coming in to make his debut in place of Paul Marshall.

Striker Darren Byfield continued his recovery from a lengthy absence with another 25 minutes against Swindon and will again be involved against play-off chasing Orient.

Resurgent Walsall have lost just two of their last 10 games and will be looking to put further distance between themselves and the bottom four.

Leyton Orient boss Russell Slade has no new injury or suspension problems.

Midfielder Jimmy Smith is expected to be unavailable again after sitting out the last two matches with a hamstring injury.

Stephen Dawson and defender Terrell Forbes were doubts for Saturday’s match against Notts County with knee and ankle injuries respectively but came through 90 minutes and are expected to retain their places.

Matthew Spring returned following his calf complaint and, after suffering no ill effects, should keep his spot.

On-loan Tottenham forward Harry Kane also returned on Saturday and he too should retain his place.

Orient are unbeaten in 11 league matches and have a good chance of making the play-offs.