Port Vale have announced the signing of keeper Joe Gauci on loan from Aston Villa.
The 25 year-old joins on a season-long loan and will provide experienced cover and competition for Marco Marosi while Ben Amos recovers from injury.
Gauci stands six foot four inches tall and has seven caps for his country.
Manager Darren Moore commented: “We’re really pleased to have Joe on board. He’s another player with experience of first-team and international football that will provide strong competition in the goalkeeping department here at Vale Park.
“He will be welcomed straight in to the group and we’re all looking forward to working with him this season.”
Player Factfile
Name: Joe Gauci
Age: 25
Height: 6 foot 4 inches
Clubs: West Torrens Birkalla, Central Coast Mariners, CCM Academy, Adelaide City, Adelaide United, Aston Villa
Loans: Barnsley
Appearances: 85
International caps: 7
Signing another keeper was an absolute priority, and Moore has delivered without delay by loaning a competent addition. Marosi will have strong competition, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Gauci claims number one status.
Not really what I was expecting, the lads 25 and only played 7 EFL games, not the experienced keeper I was expecting. We now have 4 keepers on the books, one injured, a young lad and 2 keepers who managed 9 games between them last season. This is on top of 9 wingbacks. That’s 13 players contest 3 places that almost half the squad!
The lad got injured at Barnsley so we can’t look to much into his record there really,let’s hope he’s now injury free and kicks on with his career, playing seven times for his country can’t be a bad sign,only time will tell us if he’s good enough for league one hopefully starting tonight at Blackpool.