VALE FORCED TO MAKE CHANGE AS DEFENDER IS SUSPENDED

PORT Vale defender Nathan Smith will miss Saturday’s game at Oldham Athletic after picking up his fifth league yellow card of the season in the 1-1 draw at home to Bradford at the weekend.

Smith must serve a onematch ban, leaving Darrell Clarke with the issue of replacing a player who has been a consistent part of his side either on the right or in the middle of the back three. The 25-year-old has also been one of Vale’s best performers, arguably one of half a dozen who are in the early running to be player of the season.

Yellow cards are competition-specific this season, but all Smith’s bookings have been in the league so his one-match ban is confirmed for the next league game, at Oldham. Clarke does have options and is likely to recall Aaron Martin or Leon Legge to play in the spot in the middle of the back three where Smith started against Bradford. Summer signing Martin has more recent game time in the league, but Legge marked his return from 10 weeks out with a knee injury by coming on for the last half hour of last Tuesday’s EFL Trophy win at home to Liverpool.

Vale also have a potential problem up front after James Wilson picked up a knock and was forced off in the second half of the Bradford game. He had put Vale in front with his seventh goal of the season, taking him level with Jamie Proctor.

But with Proctor out of action as he recovers from a hernia operation, Vale will be hoping Wilson recovers for the trip to Boundary Park. Clarke has been reluctant to comment on injury issues in the build up to a game, saying he doesn’t want to give the opposition any information.

If Wilson doesn’t make it, then he’ll pick a strikeforce from David Amoo, Devante Rodney, on loan Cheltenham striker George Lloyd and onloan Bolton forward Dennis Politic.

· PORT Vale’s FA Cup secondround tie at League One side Burton Albion will take place on Saturday, December 4. Kick-off is at 3pm.