Injury blow for Port Vale as youngster is ruled out for weeks

Port Vale have confirmed that loan star Mitch Clark has picked up a grade one hamstring tear.

The young Aston Villa defender was forced off at half-time of the home defeat to Swindon Town and is now set to be out of action for three weeks.

We will be glad when he is back, and back in contention, but we have enough to cover…

Vale assistant manager Lee Nogan told the media: “He has a grade one tear. We have got the message from Villa this morning that he will be out for three weeks. But we just hope the lad gets back as quickly as possible.

“He has played a lot of games in a short space of time and going from under-21s football to, if you like, more intense football in League Two. The way he plays, he is always one of those players that can pick up a hamstring, a thigh or calf injury.

“We will be glad when he is back, and back in contention, but we have enough to cover.

“He will be in good hands at Villa – a big club and they will have more staff than we have to give him better treatment in certain areas where we couldn’t do that. So, he is in the best hands.”