TEAMtalk

Port Vale v Macclesfield preview

Sunday 08-April-2012 16:35

Clayton McDonald is a major doubt for Vale.

McDonald is nursing a hamstring injury following the 2-1 victory at Aldershot on Friday.

Joe Davis could come back into the team and replace McDonald at centre-half. The teenager was left out of the squad for the Shots clash on his return from a one-match suspension.

Manager Micky Adams is looking for a repeat of the performance against Aldershot when the Silkmen come to Vale Park.

"It's a big game on Monday. We've got a responsibility to the league and the other teams who are at both ends of the table to go out there and do our jobs," Adams said. "Aldershot had a chance of getting into the play-offs and we approached the game in the right manner. It would be nice to win a home game and respond again after the Dagenham result."

Attacker Chris Shuker returned from a hamstring injury as a late substitute on Friday but Adams continues to be without winger Rob Taylor (Achilles) and defender Gareth Owen (knee).

Meanwhile, Macclesfield winger Marcus Marshall is an injury doubt.

Marshall took a knock to his ankle midway through the second half of Good Friday's 3-1 loss to Shrewsbury.

Striker Ben Mills replaced Marshall and will battle with fit-again Ben Tomlinson for a place in Brian Horton's starting line-up as top scorer George Donnelly (hamstring) remains sidelined.

The Silkmen, who are three points from safety in the relegation zone, are chasing their first victory of 2012 and continue to contend with a raft of injury problems.

Tony Diagne shook off a groin problem to feature against the Shrews, but Carl Tremarco (hamstring) is doubtful and fellow defenders Elliott Hewitt (hip) and Paul Morgan (ankle) are out for the season.