Harrogate Town v Port Vale: Simon Weaver welcomes overdue Sulphurites selection headache

Simon Weaver may well take the opportunity to freshen things up when Harrogate Town entertain Port Vale.

Injuries have left the Sulphurites with very little room for manoeuvre in terms of squad rotation in recent months, though the return to fitness of defensive duo Ryan Fallowfield and Lewis Richards means they now have more options.

As a result, midfielders Lloyd Kerry and Josh Austerfield did not even make Weaver’s bench for Saturday’s goalless draw at Barrow, and the Harrogate boss admits that the fact he will be faced with another selection headache in midweek is a positive thing.

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“We haven’t had the luxury of being able to rest players until Saturday when we had two players missing out on the squad who were fit. We’ve always been short up until then,” he said.

Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver Picture: Yui Mok/PAHarrogate Town manager Simon Weaver Picture: Yui Mok/PA
Harrogate Town manager Simon Weaver Picture: Yui Mok/PA

“It’s been good the last few days, we’ve been training and there’s plenty of bodies out there. We’ve not been able to rotate throughout the winter period and it’s made it difficult really.

“It’s been hard to plan in advance this season and last, and that is something that we have learned from and we will take into next season because it would be nice to be in a position, like we were on Saturday and we are for this game, where we can go ‘maybe we will freshen this player up for that opponent’.

“I think we would benefit as a side from that because you can’t just keep playing the same players week in, week out and expect the same kind of top performances.

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“One thing is for sure, when you’ve got bodies in the building who are fit, it drives up the performance levels in training and competition for places. That’s the main motivating factor when the players know they’ve got to keep on their game.”

OPTIONS: Simon WEaver is pleased to have defender Ryan Fallowfield back in the selection picture. 
Picture: Bruce RollinsonOPTIONS: Simon WEaver is pleased to have defender Ryan Fallowfield back in the selection picture. 
Picture: Bruce Rollinson
OPTIONS: Simon WEaver is pleased to have defender Ryan Fallowfield back in the selection picture. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

Vale will arrive at 13th-placed Harrogate ninth in the League Two standings and unbeaten in eight matches.

“It’s going to be difficult,” Weaver added. “They are a step up in class from our last two opponents and are a tough nut to crack. They have been that way for some time now under Darrell Clarke.

“They’re a good solid outfit and have a lot of experienced, talented players, so they’re not just solid, they can cause problems.”

Last six games: Harrogate Town DWLDLW; Port Vale WDDDWD.

Referee: D Bond (Lancashire).

Last time: Harrogate Town 0 Port Vale 2, April 5, 2021, League Two.

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