Injuries hit Vale’s opponents
Port Vale’s next opponents, Carlisle United, could be without seven first-team players on Saturday.
On-loan Manchester United striker Sam Byrne is the latest injury doubt after the striker was taken on after an hour in Carlisle’s game against Brentford.
Carlisle boss, Graham Kavanagh admitted that Byrne’s injury was a concern, telling the official website: “We’re short on numbers because we have another injury to contend with in Sam Byrne,”
The club remain hopeful that Byrne can make a quick recovery but if he fails to make it, he will join James Berrett, Matty Robson, Sean O’Hanlon, Paul Thirlwell, Mark Gillespie and Conor Townsend on the sidelines.
However, despite the set-backs, Carlisle managed a highly creditable 0-0 draw with promotion hopefuls Brentford at the weekend despite a patched-up side that saw Byrne make his full debut upfront, a winger, Dave Symington, playing at right-back, left-back, Chris Chantler making his first start since November, and an untested centre-half pairing of Courtney Meppen-Walter and veteran Pascal Chimbonda.