Vale back in contention following hospital trip

MATT Taylor has revealed Harvey Vale could return to action for Bristol Rovers as they travel to Northampton in League One this afternoon.

The Chelsea loanee has been sidelined with a mystery issue that forced him to go to hospital last week.

Vale, 20, missed the defeat to Burton and Tuesday’s victory at Stevenage having endured pain after the Fleetwood game – substantial enough to send him to hospital.

It was initially believed that the issue was viral, and Vale had scans both in hospital and back at his parent club Chelsea.

It appears the youngster has been given the green light, but there has been concern for his welfare due to how limited the information available on his condition was. However, according to Taylor, Vale, above, is back with Rovers and in contention.

The manager revealed: “We’ve been told that it was a virus of some sort and then an inflammation internally which affected the stomach. The pain was in that area after the game last Tuesday and maybe then a bit of inflammation.

“He’s done an individual session two days ago with Chelsea and a bit of a team group session and then has been back in our building today, but we still can’t put him on that pitch for any substantial amount of time.”

Despite playing the majority of this season at left-back or left wingback, the 20-year-old’s preference is in an attacking midfield role and he could find himself more central.

Sam Finley, Luke McCormick, Grant Ward, Brandon Aguilera and Jordan Rossiter remain injured, while Antony Evans and Kamil Conteh are suspended.

Cheltenham Town boss Darrell Clarke will not change his approach to today’s game even if it is against his most recent former club.

Port Vale are the visitors to Whaddon Road this afternoon.

Clarke said: “For me, it’s a game with three points at the end of it and that’s what we’ll be trying to get, it doesn’t matter what opposition we are against.

“I’ll always come up against teams I’ve managed. I had a really good affinity with the people at Port Vale, the owners, director of football. It was a hell of a journey, a very emotional journey for myself in particular, but that journey has ended. I needed to reset when I left.”