Loft made 32 league appearances for Vale last season

Port Vale midfielder Doug Loft could be fit enough to start against Macclesfield on Saturday, a month after suffering a punctured lung.

Loft sustained the injury against Chesterfield in August and made a surprising return to the bench for the 1-0 win over Aldershot.

The 23-year-old told BBC Radio Stoke: "I'll try and get a good weeks training this week.

"I'd like to play Saturday but it's up to the gaffer."

Despite his desire to return to the starting line up, Loft told BBC Radio Stoke that the injury is not yet fully healed.

"I went up for a header and broke two ribs and punctured my lung and just basically had to rest for three weeks," he said.

We've got a strong squad, if someone's not doing it then they can be replaced by someone who'll do just as well. Port Vale midfielder Doug Loft

"It's disjointed so it's still sticking into my lung a bit so another bad tackle on it and it'll just puncture my lung. It's still sore but I can play through it, the gaffer wanted me to train so I trained.

"I've done a lot with Andy [Foster, the club's physiotherapist], with just running and leg weights and things like that so my fitness is still quite good.

"We've got a strong squad, if someone's not doing it then they can be replaced by someone who'll do just as well."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version