VALE DUO PENCILLED IN FOR A RETURN TO TRAINING NEXT WEEK

JOHN Askey is hoping David Amoo and Zak Mills will be able to return to training next week. Both have been sidelined with hamstring problems but their return will give Port Vale boss Askey more options down the right.

Vale, who are at home to Salford City this afternoon, are looking to recover from back-to-back league defeats but face a tough few days. After today’s game against the bookies’ title favourites, they travel to second-placed Cambridge on Tuesday.

Winger Amoo has been out since suffering the hamstring problem in the opening stages of the 3-1 win at Wigan in the EFL Trophy on October 6.

Right-back Mills was forced off at half-time of the goalless draw at home to Harrogate on September 6. Their return will give Askey welcome cover although he does have options in both positions. Mitch Clark is expected to start at right-back this afternoon after re-signing for the club on loan from Leicester City and playing in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at home to Carlisle.

Meanwhile, Amoo will be competing with Dave Worrall, Devante Rodney, Harry Mckirdy and Cristian Montano for a place out wide.

Askey said: “David should be back in full training next week. It is the same with Zak.”

Vale face a Salford side who will be under the command of Paul Scholes after Graham Alexander was sacked on Monday. Scholes is the club’s co-owner and has taken temporary charge while the club looks for a replacement manager. Salford are fourth in the table and unbeaten in their five league games.

The Vale are down to 12th after following their 1-0 defeat at Morecambe with the defeat at home to Carlisle.

But those results came after an 11-game unbeaten league run by Askey’s side. In fact, Carlisle became the first side to beat Vale in the league in Burslem since Walsall also came away with a 1-0 victory in December.

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