Owen fractured his cheekbone in the game at Bradford on 10 November

Port Vale defender Gareth Owen says he played with no ill effects after making his comeback from a fractured cheekbone at Northampton on Saturday.

The 27-year-old centre-half missed three matches after undergoing an operation on 27 November.

"It's fine, I'm 100%," Owen told BBC Radio Stoke. "I've had the all-clear from the specialist this week.

"The bone's back to normal. I have to wear the mask as a precaution, but it doesn't limit my performance."

Owen was singled out for praise by manager Micky Adams for his performance at Sixfields, particularly after John McCombe had been sent off for a professional foul on 49 minutes.

"Gareth and Lee Collins were tremendous, as were Adam Yates and Kris Taylor," Adams told BBC Radio Stoke.

"We had a back four there, once the sending-off happened, that coped with everything Northampton had to throw at us."

McCombe will now be suspended for the visit of Chesterfield on Saturday as a result of his red card at Sixfields.

Vale's 11th draw from 21 games this season leaves them in 16th position in League Two.

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