MORE MINUTES FOR WILSON IS A BIG BOOST FOR VALIANTS, INSISTS CROSBY
PORT Vale assistant manager Andy Crosby says James Wilson’s return to fitness was just one positive from the team’s progress into the last 16 of the Papa Johns Trophy.
The Vale have a free weekend before they prepare for next Friday’s game at League One leaders Plymouth Argyle.
That’s arguably their toughest assignment of the season, but they will go into it with some confidence having climbed to 10th in the table on a run of just two defeats in their last eight league games.
They are also through in the Trophy after Wilson stepped up his recovery from an ankle injury by playing the first hour of Tuesday’s 2-1 win at home to Barnsley.
The 26-year-old had come back ahead of schedule to play 53 minutes of last weekend’s 1-0 win at home to Charlton. He was on the receiving end of a late challenge from Barnsley’s Liam Kitching for which the defender was booked in first half injury time.
Crosby confirmed last season’s 15-goal top scorer had come through unscathed and the plan was always to just give him an hour.
He said: “We do have to be careful. We are trying to progress people’s minutes but we are also conscious of how heavy and sapping the pitch is. That is through no fault of anyone. The weather has made the conditions really difficult, not only on the stadium pitch but also on the training pitch.
“So, we have to be careful and use all the information we have got. Willo took a nasty whack just before half time but he is okay and he is probably 100 plus minutes ahead of where he potentially was going to be before he played last week.”
Other positives included a bright performance from Dennis Politic
whose opening goal was his fifth of the season, all having come in the cups.
Crosby added: “It was a great weight of pass from Rory (Holden) and he showed composure and intelligence with his finish. When he gets into those kind of positions he generally does finish with at least an effort on goal. He is probably still playing catch up in
terms of minutes but when he gets an opportunity he is now showing moments, which he has to.
“He has to create and score and do well for the team without the ball. If he can keep doing those things he then puts real pressure on other people.”
The assistant boss confirmed that striker Ellis Harrison didn’t feature in the Trophy squad because he
has been playing through an injury concern and so is being rested.
Vale’s players will report in on Thursday but then have some time off before beginning their preparations for the Plymouth game next week.
Crosby added: “The lads are going to have some well-deserved time off. I think it is important they stay, not only mentally fresh, but also
physically. They can spend some time with their family and then we have a really good game to look forward to next week against the league leaders away from home.”
PORT Vale have been drawn away to League Two side Salford City in the last 16 of the Papa John’s Trophy.
The tie will be played in the week commencing December 12.