Expect to see: Adam Crookes & Joan Luque
Crookes and Luque haven’t been brought in to sit around and observe and at some point tonight, they’ll likely get a chance.
At the very least they would be expected to make the bench, certainly in the case of Crookes who offers an option on the left as well as in midfield. He could replace Toffolo, with Sam still on the treatment table Danny will hope to protect the former Millwall man.
As for Luque, he was doing lots of work on the astroturf ahead of the game against Swindon, being put through his paces by Luke Jelly and he will have a point to prove. Whether that will come tonight or in the imminent EFL trophy game with Mansfield remains to be seen, but I wouldn’t be surprised at a late cameo later this evening.
Don’t expect: An easy win
A lot has changed since we smashed Vale 3-1 at Sincil Bank in December. That was the game that sparked Matt Green’s scoring run, but Vale have changed significantly.
Tom Pope is likely to sit tonight out, but former Imp Louis Dodds should put in an appearance alongside Ricky Miller. The former Dover man opened his account last weekend as Vale thrashed Cambridge 3-0, but they stumbled to a 2-0 defeat at Colchester this Saturday. they’re not going to be as lowly as they were last season and Neil Aspin will want to test himself against the best League Two has to offer tonight.
Their battling 1-0 win at the end of last season ended our slim automatic promotion hopes, they’ll be trying to ensure a similar narrow victory to get them into round two of the EFL Cup.
Has Joan Luque got international clearance yet?
Well Gary, it’s plain to see that despite your “inside track”, in reality your predictions are as thin as those of the rest of us! Only Danny and Nicky Cowley know what formation and players will be selected . But hey, keep getting the predictions wrong please, we are all loving this free scoring start to the season and long may it last!
3 at the back with Shackell starting? check
Crookes and Luque playing at some point? Nope (I was surprised by that too, Luque’s keep-it-off-the-ground passing game with Andrade had us enthralled before the game, Luque won and has talent in spades)
Not a free-flowing thrashing? Nope. Pett was immense, yet may not start on Saturday.
Bloody hell, we were good. And all with Bossie, Eardley and Vickers at home with their stamp collections or whatever they do in their free time.