Port Vale: Tadhg Purcell handed Valiants opportunity

PORT Vale are casting their eye over Tadhg Purcell as boss Micky Adams looks to strengthen his striking options.

The former Darlington front man has joined the club for pre-season training and could be offered a deal if he impresses.

The 27-year-old is a free agent following his release by Northampton Town.

"We are having a look at him," said Adams.

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"We'll assess him over the five or six weeks and see where we go from there."

Purcell started his career at Shamrock Rovers, but made a big impact on his debut in English football, hitting nine goals in 22 starts for Darlington were relegated from League Two.

He moved to Northampton, but suffered ruptured cruciate and lateral knee ligaments which sidelined him for the whole of the 2010/11 season.

A five-game spell back at Darlington at the start of last season was followed by another loan stint, this time with Cork City.

Purcell hit three goals in three games for Cork, whose League of Ireland Premier season runs from March to October, including one in their 3-0 win at Bray on Friday.

Adams, meanwhile, was full of sympathy for luckless Lewis Haldane, who has been ruled out of pre-season.

The 27-year-old has undergone a minor operation to remove scar tissue from his left ankle, which was believed to be hampering his bid to recover from his broken leg he suffered last August.

"it's another setback for Lewis and we all feel sorry for the lad," said Adams.

"If anyone needed some luck, it is him, so we wish him all the very best."

Haldane had agreed a new six-month contract with the club in a bid to prove his fitness, but Adams insisted he would not put any pressure on the player to return.

"There will be no pushing from me because he needs to concentrate on his recovery," said Adams.

Haldane initially joined the club on a season-long loan from Bristol Rovers in 2009, before completing a free transfer move.

But his career at Vale has been hit by injuries.

He was sidelined for four months at the start of 2010/11 when an insect bite on his ankle became badly infected.

He battled back to fitness, only to suffer a broken leg in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Tranmere.