Midfield problems ahead of Plymouth game
Port Vale will be without midfielder Sam Morsy for the visit of Plymouth Argyle after the club’s official Twitter account confirmed the youngster was ruled out through injury.
According to the @OfficialPVFC Twitter account, Morsy has been ruled out after suffering a “severe gash to his leg” during the home defeat to Fleetwood.
Skipper Doug Loft has returned to training but it may be too early to risk the midfielder. Loft lasted just 25 minutes of the game against Rochdale when he returned from injury earlier this season and Vale may feel that they need to slowly ease him back into action rather than hand him a starting position.
The absence of Morsy and Loft leaves Kingsley James, Chris Shuker and new signing Chris Birchall as the favourites to play in midfield, although Adams could also switch Louis Dodds from upfront to a midfield role. There is also the outside possibility of another new signing filling in after Vale hinted that up to two new signings may be arriving on Friday.
Birchall is unlikely to get the nod after completing his free transfer signing on Thursday (and the move may not even be completed in time for the match anyway), which leaves James and Shuker in pole position to partner Ryan Burge in midfield.