Port Vale set to be without several key players for the rest of January

Port Vale manager Andy Crosby has confirmed to the local media that several Vale players will be ruled out for the rest of January as he gave an update on the club’s injury situation.

Currently, Vale are without Mitch Clark, Funso Ojo, Tom Sang, Josh Thomas, Ryan Loft and Dan Jones. In addition, there are doubts over the fitness of Ben Garrity and Jesse Debrah after the pair left the Carlisle United game early.

Speaking about the availability of players Crosby told the local media: “He (Funso Ojo) won’t fall into the short-term category. He is going to be certainly into February. Mitch (Clark) and James (Plant) fall into that long term (category). They are not going to be back until mid to late-March which would then leave us a month of the season left.”

Defender Dan Jones has played just four League games this season and Crosby added: “Dan had an injection the other day but he has now missed such a long period of football with why he first came out of the team and things he has picked up since. He now has to regain his football fitness to enable him to be part of the full group training. So, he will certainly be looking at the end of January.”

There is better news concerning Tom Sang and Ryan Loft with Crosby saying: “He (Tom Sang) has an ongoing issue regarding his Achilles. The difference in surfaces we are encountering through the winter months has flared up an issue with him. That is more short-term than the end of January. He (Loft) was on antibiotics and was really rough last week but we expect him to be available for the weekend.”

Finally, Crosby gave an update on loanee Josh Thomas commenting: “The initial word was that it would be a three-week injury. He then suffered a setback, he has been ill over Christmas. He has commenced running in the last few days. The earliest he will be back is probably the last week in January.”

One result of Vale’s injury list has been the blossoming of loanee Alfie Devine who has prospered in a deeper role since injury robbed Vale of Funso Ojo and Ollie Arblaster. Crosby added: “Without Funso and Ollie, Alfie has had to play slightly deeper. I think we have almost seen a different side to his game in terms of his ability to start attacks from a deeper position and to open up the pitch with his longer passing range. He has taken on more responsibility and is growing with it and again I hope there is more to come in his loan period with the club.”