Port Vale vs Peterborough United preview - O'Connor fit for Vale

Posted Friday, January 16, 2015 by PA

Michael O'Connor will be fit for Port Vale's home clash against Peterborough.

O'Connor suffered a knee injury during the defeat to Chesterfield last Saturday and had to battle through discomfort to complete the 90 minutes as the Valiants had already used all three of their substitutions. However, the midfielder has trained this week and has fully recovered.

Vale manager Rob Page could make changes to his starting line-up following the 3-0 loss at the Proact Stadium, with Colin Daniel, Achille Campion, Chris Lines, Byron Moore, Chris Robertson and Chris Birchall all possibles to come into the side.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland international defender Ryan McGivern, who injured his arm against Coventry last month, is "very, very close" to making a return to the squad, according to Page.

Goalkeeper Scott Loach will make his Peterborough debut.

Loach has been brought in on loan from Rotherham following an injury to first-choice stopper Ben Alnwick, who is looking at between four to eight weeks on the sidelines with a thigh injury.

Posh suffered another injury blow this week with the news that Jon Taylor had suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee problem. The winger, absent since mid-November, will now be out for another three weeks.

Central defender Gaby Zakuani is on international duty with DR Congo at the African Nations Cup.