Port Vale: Adams holds fire on loans

by Steve Shaw

VALE boss Micky Adams says he may resist splashing the club's cash on a loan defender with Gareth Owen set to make a double-quick return from a fractured cheek bone.

Owen, pictured, was expected to be sidelined for at least two weeks after suffering a nasty nasty facial injury in last week's Johnstone's Paint Trophy penalties defeat at League Two rivals Bradford City.

While he was ruled out of last night's 1-0 FA Cup first-round replay victory at non-league Stevenage Borough, Adams had planned to sign a replacement defender ahead of Saturday's league trip to league rivals Barnet.

But Adams said: "We could possibly have Gareth Owen back on Saturday.

"The word on him wasn't too clever and it looked like we could miss him for four or five weeks. We did put provisional plans in place to get someone to play instead of him. A deal is still there for a player if I want to pursue it today, but I don't want to waste the club's money. I want to spend it wisely."

Owen will only be able to play at Barnet with the aid of a protective mask.

Meanwhile, Adams's ranks will also be reinforced on Saturdayon Saturday as defender Luke Prosser and skipper Tommy Fraser return from one-match bans last night.

A Louis Dodds first-half headed goal settled their replay tussle at Stevenage, to set up a second-round clash with League One side Huddersfield Town.

Vale's depleted squad meant they could only name six substitutes, instead of the permitted seven, while some first-teamers were forced to play out of position. WThey included wing-back Kris Taylor who was filled in at centre-half in the absence of Owen and Prosser.

Adams added: "IWe only had the bare bones of a squad and couldn't even fill the bench.

"So It was a fantastic achievement from the lads. There was a great spirit in the camp and everybody played their part.

"We had players playing out of position, but what an effort from the players. We picked ourselves up and put on a great display."

In the build-up to the last night's replay Fraser stirred up controversy by attacking Stevenage's cocky attitude in the game's original tie, which ended finished 1-1 10 days ago.

But Adams refused to kick dust in the face of the Blue Square Premier sidehigh-flyers or their manager Graham Westley.

"Tommy Fraser is the captain of the club and he is entitled to his opinion," Adams said.

"I think Mr Westley has a certain air about him which doesn't always please a lot of people, but I wouldn't knock him for that.

"They are flying high at the top of their league and good luck to them."