Swindon Town face a critical League Two test against Walsall this weekend while grappling with a potential injury crisis involving up to 12 players. The situation compounds a difficult period for the Robins, who are winless in their last five league matches and sit 17th in the table with 11 points from 10 games.

Key attackers Paul Glatzel, Fletcher Holman, Harry Smith, Ollie Palmer, Ben Middlemas and Danny Butterworth are among those who could be sidelined for the visit of the Saddlers to the Nigel Eady County Ground. Manager Ian Holloway is understood to be considering a more counter-attacking approach to cope with the absences. The club's medical staff are working around the clock to assess the fitness of several players ahead of the match, with late decisions expected on a number of them.

Walsall's own absentees

Walsall will also be without several players, with head coach Lee Grant confirming long-term injuries to four individuals. Full-back Roman Dixon, who debuted on the opening day but has not featured in the league since, is making steady progress from an issue sustained in the EFL Trophy. Loan midfielder Antony Evans and Alex Pattison are sidelined with hamstring problems, while centre-back Harry Williams continues his rehabilitation from an Achilles injury suffered in last season's play-off final. Grant indicated that none of the four are close to a first-team return, leaving his squad selection relatively straightforward but thinner in certain areas.

Grant paid tribute to his opposite number ahead of the match. "I can't lace his [Holloway’s] boots when it comes to management," the Walsall boss said. "He's light years ahead of where I am."

Form and fixture context

The match presents a stark contrast in form. Walsall arrive unbeaten in the league and sitting sixth, having conceded only six goals in nine games. Swindon, in contrast, have scored just once during their five-game winless streak, a run that includes recent defeats to Crewe and Rochdale. The team's top scorer this season is Aaron Drinan, who has netted 22 times in 40 appearances across all competitions. Holloway acknowledged the challenge, stating his team must be "smarter and more resilient" to get a result against a defensively solid opponent.

With such a lengthy list of potential absentees, Holloway's squad depth will be severely tested, and he may be forced to include several academy players on the bench. Supporters can check the latest available personnel on the club's squad page. The fixture kicks off at the County Ground on Saturday, with Swindon looking to halt their slide down the standings. A club spokesperson confirmed the injury situation is among the worst they have faced in a single week in recent memory.

The original report is at swindonadvertiser.co.uk