Port Vale fell to a defeat at the hands of Rochdale last night, and suffered far worse than just the loss.
Half way through the first half, defender Kjell Knops was injured and had to be stretchered off the pitch due to a severe injury to his knee.
Manager Michael Brown spoke exclusively to Valiant PlayerHD about the loss of Knops: “First and foremost we need to make sure that Kjell is getting the correct care and treatment.
“We will not see him for a long period of time, that is for certain. It is very difficult to take, but we have to play with the rest of the squad, like we have been doing.
“But like we said before this game, it would be nice to not have to make the regular two changes.”
Brown thinks that Knops’ injury is a reason for their first half collapse at Spotland, and sympathises for his players: “The players’ heads will drop, with a player suffering a sickening injury. It does affect people, and did so tonight.”
However, the 40-year old praised his players regarding their attitude in the second half: “But these are things that we had to explain at half time, and we have got to regroup and keep our shape.
“We had to start and play the game from scratch after half-time because it was heavily against us and it could have been a really big score, the way it was heading. Full credit to the players, they had a go in the second half.”
With the loss of Knops proving to be huge at this stage of the season, Brown has no doubt of the effect that the Dutchman has had on Vale this season: “He has been a real plus point for us and hopefully we will have a bit of luck with him. Of all people, he will be the one to do things correctly to get back as soon as possible.
“He has done really well, coming to England. He had a little dip but came back from it, and now unfortunately he has his injury. He is very level headed, he wants to listen and learn every day and he great in the dressing room.”