Vale in striker crisis

VALE REC are facing a striker crisis ahead of tomorrow's big clash with St Martin's and beyond. Coach Chris Hamon reported yesterday that injuries suffered by both Danny Bisson and Matt Falla against Trinity last weekend have ruled both forwards out of the home fixture with Saints.

To make matters worse, both players could be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines although the extent of the injuries is still unclear.

Bisson was withdrawn from the action after taking a knock to his right shin and he is waiting for x-ray results.

'The tackle that went in on Danny obviously hurt him. When he got up, he looked at me and said: ?I think I have a problem here?,' said Hamon.

'We gave him the option to come off straight away but he wanted to see if he could run it off. The more he tried, though, the more sore it got and he lasted only a couple more minutes.

'He went to the doctor who said he could feel a lump, which could be a blood clot caused by a hairline fracture. We are waiting on test results but that could be three weeks or it could be three months.

'I must admit, I have never seen a bruise like it. By the time we got back to Guernsey, his leg was black,' he added.

The player himself was in a philosophical mood and was hoping for the best.

'I have to wait and see. If it is only bruising, it could be just a week or two,' Bisson said.

Falla's problem is muscular although he bravely played through extra time in the Wheway Cup tie.

'Right at the end of full time, Matt took a knock to his knee and was very sore,' Hamon said.

'Again, we asked him if he wanted to come off but he said no. He could run on it all right; it was just turning that hurt so he acted as a target man up front.

'When he went to the doctor, it was diagnosed that his quad muscle had come away from his knee.

'It is nasty but because the quad is one of the quicker-healing muscles, they reckon it could be four weeks.'

Hamon was due to discuss his striking options with his squad at training last night.

Mark Ogier is in the frame for a starting place although his services will also soon be withdrawn from Hamon following his dismissal against Trinity.

'Whoever we bring in will certainly be capable of doing a job.

'Of course, ideally for a game with Saints, it would have been better to have Danny and Matt fit,' said the coach, who will also be without James McColl once again while Gregor Allan may be missing due to work commitments.

One piece of good news for Vale is the imminent return of the club captain following a knee injury. He could even be between the sticks at the Corbet Field tomorrow.