Walsall manager Jimmy Mullen has swooped to take striker Michael Ricketts to the club for the third time in his career.The 29-year-old striker - who won one cap for England under Sven-Goran Eriksson - has put pen to paper on a permanent deal at the Banks's Stadium after leaving Oldham earlier this summer.

After starting his career with the Saddlers, Ricketts moved to Bolton and then Middlesbrough before spells at Leeds, Southend and Preston, as well as loan moves to Stoke, Cardiff and Burnley.

He spent three months on loan with the Saddlers from Oldham last season and is delighted to have returned to Walsall.

He said: "It's good to be back. I had a bit of success here last season and I will be looking to build upon that.

"This club is really moving forward and I am delighted to be part of it. The new training ground is a top-class facility and a good place to come to work. On top of that, we have some extremely talented young players; the likes of Troy Deeney, Alex Nicholls and Ishmel Demontagnac have come on so well since I was last here and they will provide a bright future for this club.

"We know that League One will be very competitive, but everyone starts on an even keel and we have every chance of doing well if we can push on. It's nice to be coming home. This club means a lot to me and having spent the summer with Anthony Gerrard, he convinced me that we are really going places under Jimmy Mullen."

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