Oldham v Port Vale preview
Friday 19 October 2018 12:48, UK
Jordan Lyden could make his League One debut for Oldham in Saturday's clash with Port Vale.
The on-loan Aston Villa midfielder has been sidelined all season by a thigh injury but played 45 minutes in the Latics' Checkatrade Trophy victory over Bradford last week.
Oldham are looking to end a four-game winless run in the league and manager Frankie Bunn feels his squad have benefited from a free weekend during the international break.
Port Vale are waiting to see whether captain Tom Pope will be fit. Pope has been struggling for fitness for several weeks, with an ankle injury the latest blow, and sat out last weekend's humbling 6-2 loss to Lincoln.
Right-back James Gibbons came through 45 minutes of the Checkatrade Trophy win over Middlesbrough in midweek after recovering from a hip problem and Luke Joyce returned from illness, so both come into contention. Ricky Miller is suspended after picking up a fifth yellow card of the season against Lincoln while Manny Oyeleke (hamstring), Cristian Montano (knee) and Scott Quigley (thigh) all remain sidelined.
Opta stats
In all competitions, Oldham are unbeaten in six at home against Port Vale, albeit five of those meetings have been drawn (W1).
Port Vale have won only one of their last 10 league games against Oldham (D6 L3), a 1-0 win in January 2014.
Oldham suffered a 3-1 defeat against Carlisle last time out - they haven't lost consecutive games in League Two since March.
Port Vale have lost each of their last three games in League Two, while they haven't lost four in a row in the competition since September 2017 (a run of six games).
Sam Surridge has scored six goals in seven appearances in League Two this term, more than twice as many as any other Oldham player.
