Port Vale’s pre-season will come to a close when they travel to face non-league Altrincham on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

The Valiants head to the J.Davidson Stadium off the back of Tuesday’s narrow 2-1 defeat against Bolton Wanderers and Rob Page’s side will be looking to restore the winning formula to the dressing room ahead of the start of the season on 8th August.

Tuesday’s defeat was the first of pre-season after the team had previously beaten Newcastle Town, Alsager Town, Kidsgrove Athletic, Notts County and drawn with La Liga side Getafe.

The game will be the last chance for players to stake a claim for a starting place in Page’s line-up when the season begins away to Crewe Alexandra, a week on Saturday.

Striker Uche Ikpeazu will be hoping to net his first goal for the club since joining from Watford earlier this month.

The powerful striker has produced some bullying performances so far this pre-season but still awaits that elusive goal which has so far deserted him.

Boss Rob Page spoke exclusively to Valiant PlayerHD after the Bolton defeat and expressed his delight with the team’s fitness levels ahead of the final trip to Altrincham and the start of the season.

He said “We are really pleased with the fitness levels, you saw Byron in the 90th minute chasing down and making 40 yard runs, Purkiss at right-back, Granty and Foley in the centre of the park so the fitness levels we are pleased with.

“We know against a very good team who had a lot of the ball we had to do a lot of running so overall I am really pleased.”

Also speaking to Valiant PlayerHD on Tuesday night, defender Remie Streete highlighted that the squad was expecting a tough test from the Cheshire-based side.

“Like a lot of lower league teams they will run about and put their foot in and make it hard," he commented Getting used to a bit of an atmosphere and some tough games.

“Nothing will replicate the opening game of the season but everyone wants to win in pre-season but it is the performance that matters.”

Altrincham have endured a mixed pre-season so far beating Bamber Bridge and Stalybridge Celtic, drawing with Wigan Athletic, Abbey Hey and Trafford as well as losing to Witton Albion and Crewe Alexandra.

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