Port Vale vs Morecambe preview
Thursday 14 February 2019 16:16, UK
Port Vale midfielder Manny Oyeleke is set to miss Saturday's clash with Morecambe due to a calf injury.
Antony Kay has been struggling with a back problem but should be fit to face the Shrimps. However, young loanees Kyle Howkins, Callum Whelan and Toby Edser could face a wait to make their debuts after new manager John Askey warned they were not yet first-team ready.
Howkins impressed for the reserves in a 1-0 win over Doncaster in midweek, a match watched by Askey as several senior players took part.
Morecambe captain Barry Roche could play after returning to training this week. The goalkeeper has not played since October but the sight of him training this week was a significant boost for a team ravaged by injuries.
The number of players sidelined hit double figures after last weekend's loss to Bury, in which Sam Lavelle and Andrew Tutte picked up injuries. They joined Aaron Wildig, Andy Fleming, Lamin Jagne, James Sinclair, Vadaine Oliver, Liam Mandeville, Lamin Jagne, AJ Leitch-Smith and Kyle Hawley in the long queue for the treatment room.
Opta stats
Since beating Morecambe 7-2 in April 2011, Port Vale are winless and goalless in three home league games against the Shrimps (D1 L2).
Morecambe have won only once in their last six league games against Port Vale (D3 L2), a 1-0 win in February 2013.
Port Vale have scored just one goal in their last five league games, failing to score in each of their last three - they haven't failed to score in four successive leagues games since September 2017 (five games).
Morecambe are winless in their last eight league games (D4 L4) - the longest current run in the division without a victory.
Port Vale have taken the lead in just 10 games this season - no League Two side has done so fewer times. Nonetheless, they are unbeaten on each of those occasions (W8 D2 L0).
