Tranmere v Port Vale preview

Team news ahead of Tuesday's Johnstone's Paint Trophy first-round tie between Tranmere and Port Vale at Prenton Park (7pm).

Tranmere boss Les Parry will assess the fitness of midfielder Andy Robinson. Rovers maintained their fine start to the season with a 2-0 win at Brentford on Saturday, with Robinson on the scoresheet. However, he was withdrawn in the 68th minute with a slight groin strain and was replaced by Joss Labadie. Striker Adam McGurk was ruled out of the Brentford game with a thigh injury and Parry chose to leave Enoch Showunmi on the bench because the targetman was only 80% fit after picking up a strain in training. Robinson, McGurk and Showunmi will all be checked as Rovers seek to continue their fine form. Port Vale skipper Marc Richards is closing in on a return from injury ahead of the trip. The striker suffered an ankle injury against Crawley on the opening day of the season and has been sidelined since. In his absence, manager Micky Adams has named an unchanged starting XI in the subsequent four league matches. Adams did shuffle things around for Vale's only other cup tie this season against Huddersfield in the Carling Cup and he may take the opportunity to do so once more. Goalkeeper Chris Martin, midfielders Ryan Burge, Lewis Haldane and Robert Taylor as well as forwards Louis Dodds and Ben Williamson are among those players who could benefit. Meanwhile, 18-year-old goalkeeper Sam Johnson has joined non-league neighbours Stafford Rangers on a month's loan.