Port Vale: Micky Adams waits on fitness of Joe Davis and Clayton McDonald
MICKY Adams is praying central defenders Joe Davis and Clayton McDonald win their fitness battles.
The Vale boss is desperate for the pair to be fit for Saturday's FA Cup first-round test at Forest Green after they missed training yesterday.
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Port Vale's Joe Davis, left, and Clayton McDonald, right are both facing fitness battles.
Davis suffered a dead-leg during the defeat at Northampton on Saturday, while McDonald (shin) was injured in the previous game at Burton Albion.
Fellow centre-halves Gareth Owen (dead-leg) and John McCombe (suspension) are already ruled out and right-back Richard Duffy, who can also play in central defence, won't recover from a twisted ankle in time.
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"We'll assess Joe and Clayton on a day-to-day basis," said Adams.
"We're hoping they come through because we are up against it defensively.
"Gareth went to hospital on Saturday night. He had a scan and we're waiting for the results, but his dead-leg is still quite swollen and he won't play on Saturday.
"Richard Duffy and Doug Loft (calf) have no chance of being fit, so we're down to the bare bones."
McCombe will miss three matches after his straight red card against Northampton, but Adams says there is little chance of fixing up loan cover, even if he was given the green light to do so.
Vale would require special Football League dispensation to bring in a player on an emergency loan, but Adams said he had not yet asked about the possibility.
"We're preparing for an FA Cup game and a lot of the clubs you talk to, regardless of whether you can sign them or not, don't want their players cup tied," he said.
Young midfielder Kingsley James featured alongside Davis in central defence during the second half at Northampton and Adams felt he did a "sterling job".
"If we have to use him there again, then we'll do so," added the manager.
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