Richards Ready For Vale Return

Vale return to League action this weekend as Marc Richards makes his first return to Vale Park since his summer switch to rivals Chesterfield. The former club captain served the Valiants well during his five years at the club. The striker scored 75 times during his stay in the Potteries, which puts him into the top ten of the club`s all-time goal scoring list. However, his move to Derbyshire hasn`t been plain sailing. Having suffered through a lack of form and then injury, Richards told The Sentinel that he was nevertheless relishing his return.

"I'm a Port Vale fan at heart, but I've no point to prove to anybody. The people there and the supporters know what I did for the club.

"I'm expecting some stick - that's part and parcel of football. There will always be a handful of fans who think the worst, but I'll enjoy the occasion."

Richards won`t be the only former Valiant returning. Midfielders Danny Whitaker, Sam Togwell and Jay O`Shea also enjoyed spells with the club. The Spirerites have picked up form over recent weeks following the appointment of Paul Cook as manager from Accrington Stanley. Chesterfield have won their last three league matches, including a 4-1 thumping of high flying Cheltenham Town, who Vale travel to next Saturday. Cook will have the on loan Brighton striker Brennan Dickenson available after being cup tied for the FA Cup tie with Tranmere Rovers. The evergreen Jack Lester and Scott Boden will also be in contention for a recall, while Louis Boa Morte can`t have imagined making a return to Vale Park for a League 2 encounter after briefly featuring as a substitute during Arsenal`s FA Cup replay in 1998.

Meanwhile, Micky Adams will be sure to make changes to the side that lost to Bradford City in the midweek JPT game. Top scorer Tom Pope, Richard Duffy and Ryan Burge will all return to the side following suspension, while Clayton McDonald could replace Liam Chilvers in the heart of the defence.

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