Port Vale v Huddersfield preview

Team news ahead of Tuesday's Carling Cup Round One clash between Port Vale and Huddersfield.

Last Updated: 08/08/11 at 20:22   

Rhodes: Will miss Cup tie

Rhodes: Will miss Cup tie

Port Vale captain Marc Richards is a doubt for the game. The striker was forced off after an hour of the League Two fixture against Crawley on Saturday with an ankle injury.

It is not the same ankle Richards injured during the club's tour of North America last month but he will need to be assessed before kick-off.

Summer signings Kingsley James, Phil Roe, Ben Williamson and Ryan Burge will hope to make the squad after they were overlooked at the weekend.

Midfielders Robert Taylor and Lewis Haldane and strikers Clayton Donaldson and Louis Dodds, who scored Vale's injury-time equaliser against Crawley, were all substitutes on Saturday and are options should manager Micky Adams wish to make changes.

The tie could see Vale defender John McCombe come up against his brother, Jamie, who plays for the Terriers.

Jordan Rhodes, Town's leading scorer last season with 22 goals, started in the home draw with Bury at the weekend, but is included in the Scotland Under-21s squad for their friendly against Norway on Wednesday.

The Terriers could also be without summer signing Anton Robinson, who was forced out of his debut on Saturday after just half an hour due to a hamstring strain.

Goalkeeper Alex Smithies will undergo surgery this week to resolve his long-standing knee problem and midfielder Damien Johnson will continue his comeback following serious knee ligament damage in a behind-closed-doors friendly this week.

Strikers Lee Novak or Alan Lee could step in for Rhodes, Tommy Miller could continue in midfield as he replaced Robinson against Bury and Ian Bennett will retain his place in goal.

Summer signing Liam Cooper, on a season-long loan from Hull, is hoping to make his competitive debut.

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Capital One Cup Fixtures

Tuesday, 06 August 2013
19:45
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