Mini crisis at the top end – Darrell Clarke on Port Vale’s mounting injury list

Manager Darrell Clarke says the club “can’t afford to lose any more forward-thinking players” after he confirmed that striker George Lloyd was the latest to join the long-term injured list.

In addition to Lloyd, the Valiants are already missing joint top-scorers Jamie Proctor and James Wilson while Dennis Politic seemed to pick up a knock during the Football League Trophy game against Rotherham. If Politic is ruled out for any period of time it would leave Devante Rodney and David Amoo as the only fit senior strikers at the club.

Midfielder Jake Taylor and winger Alex Hurst both missed the Rotherham game through injury while key performers James Gibbons and David Worrall were rested.

We’re in a bit of a mini crisis at the minute, certainly at the top end of the pitch. We’ve had some really bad news on George Lloyd as well. We’re short in that area…

Clarke told the media: “We’re in a bit of a mini crisis at the minute, certainly at the top end of the pitch. We’ve had some really bad news on George Lloyd as well. We’re short in that area.

It’s difficult at the minute to make sure we are keeping players fresh and winning games. But testament to the squad, David Amoo, Devante, Dennis Politic. They’re pushing. We haev to keep going but it is a bit of a mini crisis at the top end. We can’t afford to lose any more of our forward thinking players.”