STOKE CITY protégé Florent Cuvelier has been praised by Walsall boss Dean Smith after the loan star helped the Saddlers to a vital League One victory against Scunthorpe United on Tuesday evening.

The Belgium Under-19 captain fired home the only goal of the game to significantly boost Walsall's hopes of retaining their League One status against another of the division's strugglers at Glanford Park.

Cuvelier's second goal in three starts for the Midlanders, ensured the side elevated themselves up and above the Iron, and more crucially out of the drop zone for the first time in two months.

"He scored a great goal that has helped us to a great result," Smith said. "He was the only one who was aware of the hesitation in the Scunthorpe defence and he finished so well.

"We have got Florent now until the end of the season and I can only thank Stoke for letting him come to us.

"Technically, he is a very good player and he had done really well for us in the games he has played. Long may that continue."

The former Portsmouth youngster extended his loan spell at the Banks' Stadium until the end of April earlier this week, after his original one month deal was due to come to an end this coming weekend.