Port Vale v Plymouth preview

Team news ahead of Saturday's League Two clash between Port Vale and Plymouth Argyle at Vale Park.

Port Vale are without John McCombe for the weekend tie. The defender suffered knee ligament damage on New Year's Day and is expected to be out for at least six weeks. Boss Micky Adams told the club's website: "John McCombe has had a scan and the news is not good. "We need to get the swelling down and then re-scan it, but the best case scenario would mean he would be out for six weeks. The worse case, we don't know yet until the swelling goes down." Clayton McDonald replaced McCombe against Fleetwood and could deputise once more. Midfielder Chris Birchall has re-signed for the club but is unlikely to get international clearance in time to make his second debut. Managerless Plymouth will be without Mark Molesley after he returned to his parent club. Bournemouth midfielder Molesley's last game was the 2-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers, a result which cost Carl Fletcher his job and prompted the club to install Romain Larrieu and Kevin Nancekivell in temporary charge until a replacement for the 32-year-old is found. The two coaches have question marks over a couple of players ahead of the clash with Micky Adams' promotion hopefuls after transfer-listed captain Darren Purse (hamstring) and 17-year-old Tyler Harvey (calf) had to miss the last match of Fletcher's tenure. Durrell Berry could keep his place in the starting line-up if Purse does not make it while Warren Feeney and Rhys Griffiths are battling to replace youth product Harvey if his calf injury rules him out. But the duo have Paul Wotton available for the first time since September after a back problem. He was an unused substitute against Rovers and looks likely to be involved in the squad again. Argyle have won just one of their last 13 League Two matches and are without a win in five.