Plymouth Argyle team news for Port Vale with decisions to be made

The Pilgrims are still clinging to hopes of making the League One play-offs, but their 1-1 draw away to Bradford City and results elsewhere have left them four points outside the top six with only two more matches to play.

Argyle will take on Vale, whose relegation was confirmed after a 1-0 defeat at Cardiff City last night (Wednesday) before travelling to bottom-of-the-table Northampton Town on May 2.

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Defender Brendan Galloway appeared to suffer a recurrence of an abdominal issue in the first half against Bradford which led to him having surgery in February.

Club captain Joe Edwards missed that match in West Yorkshire after his wife, Hannah, gave birth to a baby boy on Monday but he will be available for the visit of Vale.

So, too, will left-back Jack MacKenzie who has not been involved in he squad for the last two games due to a slight knee issue.

Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley said: "We will obviously be without Brendan Galloway and Joe Edwards will come back into the squad. Jack MacKenzie returns, so two back available, one out.

"I have got some decisions to make on the squad - Bradley (Ibrahim) and Caleb Roberts. I have got good numbers to pick from, that's for sure.

"It will be a decision on do we rotate at the end of a three-game week? Do we rotate a couple of positions to get the freshest legs out possible, or stick with the consistency of the line-up?

"I will see how the players train over the next couple of days. Everyone will want to be involved in this game, being our last home game of the regular season and a big game for us in terms of ambitions."

Cleverley said about Galloway, who is out of contract this summer: "We will send Brendan for a scan today. It's never ideal when it's a recurrence. We will have to wait and see what that looks like and then plan the future for Brendan."

Striker Bim Pepple made his first start for a couple of weeks against Bradford after dealing with a minor calf injury, which ruled him out of the 3-0 win at Barnsley and the 2-2 Devon derby draw at home to Exeter City.

Pepple returned to action as a second half substitute away to AFC Wimbledon and scored the third goal in the Pilgrims' 3-1 victory.

Cleverley said: "He's fine. You could tell it was his first start back after a while. It was only two or three weeks he was missing but he looked like he needed that run out Tuesday.

"He was not his sharp self, but I think he's one of those that once he gets in a rhythm of playing he gets better and better, sharper and fitter and stronger.

"I'm sure we will see a much sharper version of Bim on Saturday than we did Tuesday. He looked like someone who needed the minutes."

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