CLAYTON McDonald has been ruled out for the remainder of Walsall’s relegation battle with a dislocated shoulder.

The defensive rock was forced off during Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to League One champions Brighton.

McDonald had originally tried to play on through the injury after falling awkwardly but was replaced by Oliver Lancashire in the second half.

The 22-year-old giant centre-half said he was ‘devastated and gutted’ to miss the crucial run-in after posting the update on his Twitter page.

It comes as a big blow to manager Dean Smith, who is already missing Aaron Lescott through injury.

Fellow defender Andy Butler, who scored against the Seagulls last weekend, said Walsall will miss McDonald because he plays with his heart on his sleeve.

“He’s worked hard in training to get himself back in the position and it’s disappointing for him to get the injury,” said Butler.

“He’s a player who is willing to put his body on the line for the cause.

“When he got injured I headed the ball out and he stayed on, I was like ‘what’s going on here’?

“He did well to try to stay on and he’s done well in the two games since he’s come back in.

“He hadn’t played since November so fair play to him.”

Smith was an angry man after the defeat to Brighton.

He blasted his defence for failing to deal with corners, from which Brighton scored two goals and effectively won the game.

But he felt McDonald was not to blame as neither of the goals were bagged by the player he was marking.

The Saddlers boss insists they need to improve defensively if they are to survive relegation.

“I’m annoyed in the manner we conceded the goals,” he said,

“We hadn’t conceded for a while then for some reason we conceded one against Brentford and two against Brighton.

“If we had defended corners we might have got something out of the game.”