Chilvers hoping to retain his place

Liam Chilvers is keeping his fingers crossed he will retain his place in the Vale starting eleven for the visit of one of his former clubs on Boxing Day.

Whether he is in the side or not, he will be hoping the Valiants pick up all three points in front of the home supporters as they continue the festive celebrations.

He says: “Ideally that is what I would want to happen, but with the result at the weekend you don’t know what the manager is going to do.

“People come in and go out and whoever is in the starting eleven will do their best as they always do.

“Obviously I would love to stay in the team and play as many games as I can, but we all hope that whoever is out there is going to do the job and get the three points, because that is the most important thing.”

Shaun Derry bring his side to Vale Park looking to pick up some Christmas cheer of his own as his Notts County side attempt to lift themselves out of the relegation places and Chilvers believes he can do well as Magpies boss.

He said: “I am sure it is a bit of a dream start for him in his managerial career to go back to the club who he supported as a kid and I am sure he will be doing everything he can to right everything and get the team back up the table and not be worrying about being relegated.

“As a player he was wholehearted and he didn’t pull out of anything so I would expect him to try to install some of that into the team he has got there.

“He has brought in some players on loan and he is trying to put his own stamp on things and they have had some decent results lately so it is going to be a tough game.”