Gaffer refuses to be drawn on team selection

Micky Adams was obviously delighted to add the signature of Lee Hughes earlier this week and feels he has plenty to offer as Vale look to cement their place in the top three.

He said: “We were close to signing him in November, but it didn’t happen for whatever reason, but we have kept in touch and managed to secure his services at least until the end of the season if not longer.

“He is experienced, the league won’t faze him. He has scored goals this season in League One so there is plenty of life left in him.

“I think he offers a bit of experience - in certain games where it has been tight and we have struggled to break teams down, he might just be the answer for us.

“He has started the last two games for Notts County, so in terms of match fitness he is certainly there. Whether he is as sharp as I would like him to be I don’t know, we will only find that out if and when he plays.”

The manager remained tight lipped regarding the likelihood of including the former West Brom striker from the start against Gillingham on Saturday.

He said: “We will consider all of our options. We have options and that is the important thing and we have got a real mixture there in terms of front play.

“We can mix it at any given moment against any given team and we will go with the front lads that we think on any given day can cause the opposition problems and Lee gives us another option.

“I didn’t realise how big he was. He is a six footer and he’s not going to get bashed around, that’s for sure.”