Port Vale youngsters handed full debuts for cup clash
Port Vale handed full first-team debuts to youth team graduates Rhys Walters and Jack Shorrock for their Carabao Cup game against neighbours Crewe Alexandra.
Shorrock was named as left wingback. He became the youngest player in the club’s history at the of 15 years and 145 days when he came on as a 75th-minute substitute for David Worrall in a 4–0 victory at Shrewsbury Town in the group stages of the Football League Trophy on 20 September 2022. He then came on as substitute in a 3–1 home defeat to Plymouth Argyle on 6 May; aged 16 years and nine days, he became the youngest player to represent the club in the Football League competition since Stuart Chapman in May 1967. Highly rated at the club, Shorrock has already been linked with a moves to bigger clubs.
Walters (pictured) was part of the Port Vale Under 18s side that reached the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup for the first time in ten years last season. He made his first team debut for the Valiants coming on as a substitute against Wolves U21s in the Football League Trophy in October.
Fellow youth teamer Baylee Dipepa was named on the bench for the clash.
The Valiants also have fellow youth team graduates James Plant and Tommy McDermott in their first-team squad – with the latter currently on loan to Rochdale.
Jack Shorrock (fourth left) and Rhys Walters (centre) during an open training session this summer