Triple boost for Vale?
Port Vale could be boosted for Saturday’s game against Oldham Athletic by the return of two players plus the expected loan signing of another.
Jack Grimmer and Joe Davis both missed (one perhaps more dramatically than the other) the cup tie against Plymouth as they were ineligible and will offer competition for the defensive positions.
Manager Micky Adams had indicated that Grimmer “was going to play in a different position” against Brentford but an injury to Liam Chilvers plus Carl Dickinson’s sad family bereavement saw the Fulham youngster line-up at centre-half. Grimmer can also play as a right-back, so he could compete with Adam Yates for the right-back berth.
Meanwhile, Davis could line-up in central defence allowing Dickinson to switch to left-back and captain Doug Loft to return to midfield.
Chris Lines will miss the game through suspension after being sent-off against Plymouth and if Sheffield United’s Florent Cuvelier signs on loan (as is widely expected) he could be a ready-made replacement for the Vale playmaker.