AJ Leitch-Smith ruled out but Page hints at Inniss return
Top-scorer AJ Leitch-Smith has been ruled out of Friday’s game against Shrewsbury Town with a hamstring problem.
Vale expect the striker to be fit for Monday’s game against Barnsley but they may bring loanee Ryan Inniss into the defence for the Shrewsbury clash.
We would rather err on the side of caution and give him that extra little bit of time…
Manager Rob Page told the media: “We are going to have to manage Ajay because we don’t want to put him in the position he was in last week where we thought he was 100 per cent but, late on in the session and with the fatigue in his muscle, he just felt it again slightly.
“We would rather err on the side of caution and give him that extra little bit of time. Friday’s game is possibly too soon for him. But Monday is a definite so that is good news.”
Page will now have to decide between JJ Hooper and Theo Robinson as Leitch-Smith’s replacement. Hooper appears to be the likely option as he started the game against Burton and generally worked hard.
The Vale manager has also confirmed that Ryan Inniss will be in the matchday squad. Inniss missed the Burton game as a precaution after he was carried off in the previous match but Vale believe he is now fit and in contention for the visit to Shrewsbury.