MICKY Adams says he may raid the loan market to provide extra cover for injured winger Lewis Haldane.

The 25-year-old is still sidelined three weeks after contracting blood poisoning as a result of an infected insect bite in an ankle.

Haldane will miss the opening weeks of the new League Two season, which begins next Saturday, leaving Adams to assess his attacking options.

"Lewis has seen his specialist and his ankle is responding well to treatment," said Adams.

"But we have to patient. I think he will be back in four to six weeks.

"I didn't really want to dip into the loan market in the first-half of the season, but I might look for a wide player.

"I've got other players who can play wide, like Louis Dodds, Sean Rigg and Robert Taylor.

"But Lewis has pace, and when he dribbles with the ball he gets us up the pitch, which takes the pressure off our defence.

"We may need a similar-type player, but I'm only considering it, and any loan would only cover Lewis's recovery time."

Meanwhile, first-year professional Anthony Malbon will escape punishment, despite missing Vale's pre-season trip to Ireland.

The 18-year-old attacker, who failed to turn up for the trip because of "personal reasons", underlined his potential by hitting a brace in Wednesday's 7-0 victory at Stone Dominoes.

"I've had a chat with Anthony and what was said remains private, but I've accepted his explanation and that's the end of it," added Adams.

"I don't discipline people unless I have to.

"Anthony's a young man and I like to think my players are part of my family. If they've got a problem I always try to help them, like I would if one of my own kids came to see me."

French midfielder Joel Ndombasi is continuing to train with Vale, but his fellow trialist, Cypriot midfielder Angelos Tsiaklis, has left the club.

"The French boy has got a bit of potential, but he's not ready for the first team," Adams explained.

"We've been told he is a free agent, but even if he's only going to cost us in terms of wages, we're not interested."