Port Vale v Morecambe preview
Last Updated: February 15, 2013 3:01pm
Adam Yates: Hoping for recall
Team news ahead of Saturday's League Two clash between Port Vale and Morecambe at Vale Park.
Vale manager Micky Adams must decide whether to name an unchanged team for the fifth successive match.
Adams has hinted he may tweak a few things following last weekend's goalless draw against struggling Barnet.
Defender Adam Yates, midfielders Chris Shuker, Chris Birchall and Sam Morsy and strikers Calvin Andrew and Ben Williamson were all on the bench at Underhill and are options for Adams.
Meanwhile, Louis Dodds is nearing a return after a calf strain and the forward may also be included in the squad.
However, defender Joe Davis and winger Ryan Lloyd have joined John McCombe on the sidelines.
Davis tweaked knee ligaments during a reserve-team game against Burton on Tuesday while Lloyd suffered an ankle injury in the same match.
McCombe, who has been out for five weeks with a knee injury, returned to training on Thursday but the defender remains short of match fitness.
Ahead of Saturday's fixture, Adams told reporters: "We weren't quite at it last week when Barnet's shape caused us a few problems. We'll have a look at that.
"But we're at home and the emphasis is always on the home team to go and attack, so that's what we'll do.
"We're an attacking side anyway and it's something of a bonus when we keep clean sheets, but to have kept three in a row is great."
Robbie Threlfall and Andy Fleming are hoping to make their comebacks from injury for Morecambe.
Defender Threlfall has not featured for almost a month due to a thigh problem.
Fleming has also been missing since the goalless draw with Cheltenham in January due to an ankle problem, but the midfielder is nearing full fitness.
If both are passed fit then Jim Bentley will have a fully-fit side to choose from as the Shrimps attempt to beat the league leaders and record a third consecutive away win.
And veteran midfielder Stewart Drummond believes they can shock Micky Adams' side.
He told the club's official website: "Not many people will give us a chance going down to Port Vale but, as we proved last season, we can go down there and get a result."
Matches
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npower League 2
Table
npower League 2
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gillingham | 46 | 83 |
| 2 | Rotherham United | 46 | 79 |
| 3 | Port Vale | 46 | 78 |
| 4 | Burton Albion | 46 | 76 |
| 5 | Cheltenham Town | 46 | 75 |
| 6 | Northampton Town | 46 | 73 |
| 7 | Bradford City | 46 | 69 |
| 8 | Chesterfield | 46 | 67 |
| 9 | Oxford United | 46 | 65 |
| 10 | Exeter City | 46 | 64 |
| 11 | Southend United | 46 | 61 |
| 12 | Rochdale | 46 | 61 |
| 13 | Fleetwood Town | 46 | 60 |
| 14 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 60 |
| 15 | Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 60 |
| 16 | Morecambe | 46 | 58 |
| 17 | York City | 46 | 55 |
| 18 | Accrington Stanley | 46 | 54 |
| 19 | Torquay United | 46 | 53 |
| 20 | AFC Wimbledon | 46 | 53 |
| 21 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 52 |
| 22 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 46 | 51 |
| 23 | Barnet | 46 | 51 |
| 24 | Aldershot Town | 46 | 48 |
