Darren Moore reveals that Jayden Stockley had been carrying an injury

Speaking after the loss to Walsall, Port Vale manager Darren Moore told the media that the forward has had a “procedure” and has now recovered.

The news perhaps explains the apparent drop-off in Stockley’s form after the targetman had been in good form earlier in the season. It also exposes Vale’s lack of cover for the big forward, something the club may want to address in the January window. Fellow strikers Ruari Paton, Lorent Tolaj and Antwoine Hackford all possess different skills and lack Stockley’s physical prowess.

Hopefully with the procedure he’s had, and the rest in between, we will get him back up to full fitness and ready for the games coming up…

Darren Moore on Jayden Stockley

Moore told the media: “We have managed to sort that (his fitness issue) out. He struggled in the Crewe game, we got some work done on him and he played in the Cheltenham game. Then with this game he was always going to come on for the last half an hour and finish the game.

“Hopefully with the procedure he’s had, and the rest in between, we will get him back up to full fitness and ready for the games coming up.”