‘GARRITY GIVES ME EVERYTHING IN GAMES AND GOT A BREATHER’

PORT Vale boss Darrell Clarke says he will continue to rest players when he feels they need it after Ben Garrity became the latest to drop out of the squad.

The 24-year-old midfielder, pictured above, was left out of the matchday 18 for Saturday’s 3-0 home win over Colchester having started the games against Barrow and Mansfield over the previous week. Clarke said Garrity isn’t injured, but had been given a break, just as the manager had done with defender Lewis Cass who was left out of the squad at Mansfield but returned to the starting line up against Colchester.

The manager said: “Ben Garrity wasn’t injured, he wasn’t in the squad but he has been first class this season.

“He gives me absolutely everything in training and in matches, and I gave him a breather. “Lewis got his breather and then I thought he was outstanding.

“It is about belief in the whole squad.

“I know I wind a few people up sometimes with the way I work but also we have to monitor their minutes and the injuries and make sure that is absolutely spot on. “But why have a squad if you haven’t got maximum belief in it? I have maximum belief in the squad and that is what I will continue to do.” Saturday’s comfortable win against Colchester was Vale’s fifth in a row at home and took them up two places to second, five points behind leaders Forest Green Rovers. Meanwhile, defenders James Gibbons and Cass, and head of community Tom Sherratt, will be guests at the Port Vale Supporters’ Club meeting on Thursday.

The meeting is in the Valiant Suite at Vale Park (7.30pm). All supporters are welcome.

The Vale return to League Town action on Saturday when they make the long trip away to Crawley.