McCombe to step up comeback
Central defender John McCombe will start for Vale reserves on Tuesday as he nears full fitness following his medial ligament injury.
McCombe has been missed since he suffered medial ligament damage in Vale’s game against Fleetwood on New Year’s day.
The big defender, who has now surpassed 200 senior appearances for the Valiants, will start against Hednesford in the semi-final of the Staffs Senior Cup and should he come through that game unscathed, he could be in contention for the away trip to Torquay at the weekend.
Assistant manager Mark Grew told the official Port Vale website: “It would be nice for John to get ninety minutes at Hednesford, but we will have to monitor that through the game. We have got young kids on the bench if John is struggling.
“He has trained today and two days last week and he looks good. He’s worked hard to get back to some sort of good shape and it wouldn’t surprise me if he does the full ninety minutes.”
Vale are somewhat low on numbers in central defence with Joe Davis also injured, Clayton McDonald on loan at Bristol Rovers and Liam Chilvers suffering from flu.
McCombe’s Vale Career
Joined: May 2008
Games: 198+4
Goals: 16