Selection headache for Rob Page

Selection headache for Rob Page

Who will wear the goalkeeper's jersey against the Shrimpers on Friday?

The injury sustained by Jak Alnwick in training last Friday opened the door for a return to Vale Park for Chris Neal who had been on loan at Doncaster Rovers, but where does Rob Page stand now regarding selection for this Friday’s home game against Southend United?

If Alnwick recover in time for the game, it will pose a bit of a selection headache for the Vale boss, but it is the type of problem he welcomes with open arms.

He says: “The bruising is coming out now, he took a heck of a whack on Friday. It is one of those that is unfortunate, but thankfully Chris has come back now and he is a great replacement. As regards to Jak, hopefully by Friday he will be back in contention.

“Should Jak be available, then they will make the decision for me. They can have an impact in training; they can have an impact certainly in the games of course.

“It is a great problem to have and I would rather have the problem of having two excellent ‘keepers than not having any.

“It is not easy to keep them both happy because they have both got the appetite to play, they are both in this industry because they want to play football on a Saturday afternoon.

“It is great to have lads with an attitude like that. There have been too many players I have seen and played with in the past who it doesn’t really hurt them when you tell them they are not playing.

“I haven’t got too many like that in the changing room, which is great to know, and I certainly haven’t got a ‘keeper that is happy to do that, they both want to play.”