Veteran striker Tom Pope suffered a broken arm and shoulder ligament damage during Port Vale’s Football League Trophy defeat to Sunderland – the third Vale player to be injured in the game.
Share your thoughts: if Pope and Rodney are both out who should start upfront against Forest Green Rovers?
Pope tumbled to the ground in the closing stages of the 2-0 defeat but remarkably was able to carry on despite his injuries. Pope told the Sentinel newspaper: “I thought I had popped my shoulder but I have had a scan and I have done my shoulder ligaments and broken my arm… I felt like I did okay on Saturday and proved my worth and then all of a sudden I am back out again. So that part of it is frustrating.”
The Valiants played poorly on the night as they lost 2-0 but they will also be counting the cost of injuries suffered during the game. Promising youngster Alex Hurst was forced off early on while Danny Whitehead was also replaced in the second-half.
However, the loss of Pope is arguably the most damaging. The veteran had linked up well with Devante Rodney against Grimsby in a match in which Rodney went off injured.
It means Vale could now face Forest Green Rovers with one of their first-choice strikers ruled out and if Rodney doesn’t recover in time, both could be ruled out.
It would leave Theo Robinson and Mark Cullen as the club’s only available central forwards.
Share your thoughts: if Pope and Rodney are both out who should start upfront against Forest Green Rovers?
If Rodney is still injured we’re down to the bare bones in the striker department, It would have to be Cullen up front even though it’s not ideal as he’s had a lengthy lay off.if he’s deemed not able to start it would have to be Robinson, it’s too big an ask to throw Eden Bailey up front on his own.
Its got to be Mark Cullen + A.N.Other up front, maybe Jake Taylor playing in just behind him. I wouldnt even entertain Theo Robinson. Pugh might as well sign me + play me up there along side Cullen. Im nearly 50 and still more mobile that Robinson.