West Brom loan Sam Mantom back to neighbours Walsall

Struggling Walsall have responded to their slide down the League One table by re-signing West Bromwich Albion's Sam Mantom on loan until January.

The Stourbridge-born midfielder, 20, was first brought in for a successful two-month loan at Bescot in March.

He scored three times in 13 games and boss Dean Smith will hope for more of the same for the injury-hit Saddlers.

"Sam is a player that we know very well and I'm delighted we have been able to bring him back here," said Smith.

Andy Taylor, Ben Purkiss, Fabien Brandy and Florent Cuvelier are all likely to miss Saturday's home game with Swindon.

Mantom is expected to be drafted straight back in as the Saddlers look to end their run of nine matches without a win, the worst of which was Tuesday night's 4-1 defeat by lowly Scunthorpe United.

"He will strengthen us and bring added quality to the midfield; he's a good passer of the ball who knows our style of play and will fit into what we are trying to achieve here extremely well," Smith told the club's website.