Port Vale youth team striker Louis Briscoe is set for a call-up for Saturday’s game at Bescot, after an impressive performance in Monday’s 3-2 reserve win against Stockport. Briscoe has made just one first team appearance so far, as a substitute when they lost to Bristol City in December.

He looks like being considered ahead of Hector Sam, who hasn’t played for the first team since breaking his ankle in August, but needs to break through to have a chance of making his country’s World Cup squad.

Manager Foyle is short of strikers all round, though, as former Saddler Michael Husbands is out for the rest of the season after a hernia operation and hopes are fading that Nathan Lowndes will be fit following a twisted ankle. Lee Matthews is also out of the reckoning after picking up a hamstring injury in Monday’s reserve match.