Manager Neil Aspin will be looking to certain players to learn the skill of talking and communicating at the weekend, as he said in his press conference today "you cannot play football without it."

The Valiants were minutes away from their second consecutive win in four days after leading at Crewe with a minute to go, before a Charlie Kirk goal meant Vale left with just a point.

Aspin said in his post match interview that certain members of the side don't speak enough and communicate, and will be looking to amend this on Saturday especially with the younger players, but admits it's a tough area to improve.

"It's difficult because you can only keep telling players, but you can't play football without communicating. It's a big part of the game.

"That's why some people who maybe have had better days or probably their legs have gone, can still have a massive influence on the game by what they do in terms of talking. 

"We've seen that from the Premier League down. In talking, it's a skill which some people grasp earlier than others. But it is a massive part of the game, certainly when you're trying to see games out and the opposition push four or five players up front.

"You've got to have people who are talking, communicating, pushing people in the right areas and we didn't have that on Monday and that's why we ended up conceding."

A big area on the pitch where communication plays a major role is in goal. Goalkeeper Ryan Boot has been a regular starter in recent weeks under the manager, but looks set to be out for a few weeks after sustaining a foot injury in Monday's match against Crewe.

Aspin confirmed the goalkeeper had a scan on his foot which ruled out any possibility of a broken foot, but it did show he had damaged a ligament, and will now look to Sam Hornby step up after coming on as Boot's replacement and impressing .

The gaffer was forced to substitute Boot early in the first half on Monday due to the injury, and was disappointed by comments made suggesting the keeper was faking an injury in order to be replaced. 

"You've got to be very careful when people start accusing people of coming off and throwing an injury. It's one thing to say people have had a bad game but it's another to question someone's integrity.

"I certainly wouldn't want to go down that route for any player. Once you start doing that you're over stepping the mark.

"I think we all know the problems we've had with goalkeepers this year, it's been a horrendous season on that front. All Sam Hornby can do is do what he did the other day, which was coming on into a difficult game and coming out with a lot of credit. 

"Now he's got the opportunity on Saturday to prove what he can do, and I really hope he does well and take it with both hands."