Manager John Askey says that the team are feeling “relaxed” as they head into tomorrow’s away fixture against newly promoted Salford City.
The Valiants go into their third game of the new Sky Bet League Two season unbeaten and in search of their first win. The gaffer has been pleased with the positive displays put in by his side so far and hopes they continue.
Despite the transfer window being closed, the loan window remains open for two more weeks, and Askey said that they are still looking at bring in one or two more new faces, to join the 11 players signed over the summer.
Following the departure of Connell Rawlinson to Notts County, the boss’s main priority is a new centre-back, but is not too concerned about the other positions due to the good depth and lack of injuries.
One injury concern however, is Manny Oyeleke who is expected to miss three to four weeks with his hamstring, but the gaffer said he is less worried than he was last year as there is suitable cover for this campaign.
He said: “We’re a bit light in the centre-half position and I would still like to try and get another centre-forward in if we can, I think everywhere else we’re pretty strong.
“We’re still talking [to a target], at the moment we can afford to do that, everybody’s pretty much fit except for a couple.
“He’s [Oyeleke] obviously an important player for us, time will tell how important, but I feel as though we’ve got players now who can come in and do a job similar to what Manny does.”
Askey will put his squad depth to the test this Saturday against new boys Salford City, in a game that has a lot of buzz around it due to who owns the opposition, as well as the media attention Salford receive and famous faces that may be in the crowd, such as Sir Alex Ferguson who attended their last match.
The added hype to the game due to those factors will not affect the players according to the gaffer, who believes his boys will be able to focus on their football and getting three points.
Askey also highlighted the significance the travelling 1,400 Vale supporters will have on the game and how they will boost the players in what is already an exciting affair.
He said: “I don’t think it [the hype] really matters too much to the players, I think if there’s a good atmosphere then it should lift our players.
“I know the amount of tickets we’ve sold, there’ll be a good support from our end so that can only lift our players.
“It probably puts more pressure on them knowing that everybody is out to beat them, so I think we can go into the game relaxed, knowing that we have been doing quite well and just seeking three points as we do every game.”