Vale defender Owen is waiting to discover the extent of his ankle injury

Gareth Owen and Lee Collins are facing spells on the sidelines after picking up injuries in Port Vale's 1-0 defeat by Dagenham & Redbridge.

Both are doubtful for the visit of Darlington to Vale Park on Saturday.

Manager Dean Glover told BBC Radio Stoke: "They're big blows. I don't think Lee will be out too long, and we hope Gareth's injury isn't too serious.

"We need those type of players in the team at the moment to try and turn things around for us."

Collins was in Glover's original starting line-up, but was injured in the warm-up before kick-off and had to be replaced by Louis Dodds.

Owen was brought off with an injury in the second half with what appeared to be a serious ankle injury, and he has had an X-ray on Wednesday to discover the extent of the problem.

The former Stockport defender says he is expecting a lengthy lay-off.

"The physio doesn't think there's a break but the ligaments aren't in great shape," said Owen.

"I made the tackle and won the ball, and all my body weight has gone onto my ankle.

"I knew straight away that I was struggling and I had to come off. I had pins and needles in my foot so I stayed down and waited to be carried off."

Owen had only played two matches since recovering from an infection that was linked to a cyst on his back.

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