Double injury blow for Vale
Port Vale have been hit by injuries to defender Adam Yates and Tom Pope, who both face lengthy spells out of the side.
Pope was injured during training and now faces surgery on a “hernia-related problem.” Vale’s top scorer Marc Richards could face a spell out if he breaks down again, so Pope’s injury leaves Micky Adams short of numbers upfront, although Adams could move either Sean Rigg or Louis Dodds upfront to partner rookie Ben Williamson.
Yates suffered knee ligament damage in the draw with Bradford and is likely to be out for two months. Vale are desperately short of numbers at the back with Lee Collins yet to recover from an ankle injury and Gareth Owen still recovering from a foot problem.
Anthny Griffith could fill in at right-back, a move that could see both Vale’s first choice central midfielders in the full-back positions (with Doug Loft already filling in at left-back).