The Vale squad is primed to go
Vale players were put through their paces at the weekend with a tough training session after the match against AFC Wimbledon was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Vale now have a fully fit squad and every single one of them has to be ready for action, if called upon, during a busy Christmas period.
Defender Richard Duffy says the value of a decent squad could well be seen over the next couple of weeks, with Vale due to play four important games within the space of eleven days.
He said “It will be our aim to stay where we are or push on even further and if we can do that we will be happy.
“The pitches are getting a lot heavier now and with the games coming thick and fast we are going to need the squad, and every player available.
“With the heavy rain we have had, and the likelihood of snow or frost soon, it is important we keep fit and keep training and ready for game.
“Jennison Myrie-Williams is back in contention now, but Rob Taylor did well last week at Cheltenham, so that has given the manager something to think about.”
Duffy believes it is not just the quality of the squad that will see Vale through, the supporters can play their part too.
He added: “We get good support away from home and it is going to be important, home and away, that the fans get behind us and stay patient with what we are trying to do.”
The next match up is away to Rotherham and there is no doubt the home side will see this as an opportunity to make it up to their supporters, after a heavy defeat at Vale park back in September.
Assistant manager mark Grew says: “I think they’ll be smarting from the 6-2 defeat here – I know we would if we had been beaten like that. They will want to put that right because they certainly didn’t enjoy that day.
“It’s not the be all and end all of the season if we lose it, and the same if we win it, there are still an awful lot of games to go, but it is obviously a big game because they are in the top seven.”