Frenchman Jeremy de Magalhaes gets a starting place at Port Vale this evening in a defence that conceded 10 goals in three games last week.

 

The 6 foot tall left sided central defender, signed in the summer, has been restricted by injury to one game, a Football League debut in the 5-1 defeat at Chester City in August. de Magalhaes injured his right groin in training two days after his debut.

 

He played in the shock 3-0 Herts Senior Cup defeat at St Albans City last week - and headed an own goal over advancing Israeli goalkeeper Ran Kadoch.

 

With only one clean sheet this season, at Grimsby Town, Paul Fairclough has decided to give de Magalhaes a chance to stake a claim for a regular place.

 

The manager also confirmed before the team travelled North to the Potteries that striker Cliff Akurang would also definitely start at Vale Park after his foot problem.

 

Dennis Signy

 

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