WANDERERS welcome League Two Port Vale to the UniBol in their first EFL Trophy fixture of the season.

Marc Iles caught up with Mike Baggaley from the Stoke Sentinel to get the lowdown on Vale.

How seriously do you think Vale will take the group stages?

I expect Vale to make at least half-a-dozen changes, although they are not treating the Trophy as an inconvenience.

Saturday’s league game at home to Rochdale is considerably more important but Darrell Clarke has made a point of saying that the Trophy is significant because of the finance on offer.

Vale recorded an impressive win at Forest Green over the weekend, how have they started the season?

It looks a lot better after Saturday’s result. Vale had started with an opening-day defeat and then three league draws, looking solid at the back but only scoring once. So, victory at Forest Green was the first win of the season but the glass-half-full view of it is the Vale area unbeaten in four and have kept three clean sheets in their opening five league games.

They were impressive at Forest Green side who had started the season with four straight league wins, scoring 13 in the process. After scoring twice in the opening nine minutes through Jamie Proctor, Vale didn’t allow Forest Green a clear-cut chance and could have won by three or four.        

What impact has David Flitcroft had since joining the club?

A huge effect. David Flitcroft was appointed as director of football in February having initially been interviewed for the vacant manager’s job.  He recommended Darrell Clarke be appointed manager the following week and the two have worked closely on overhauling the squad.

All 15 of the club’s out-of-contract players were released at the end of the season, with a further three transfer listed. While most would have expected to go after a largely disappointing season in which the club finished 13th, there were some more controversial exits including post-war record scorer Tom Pope, reliable keeper Scott Brown and experienced midfielder, and Bolton fan, Luke Joyce.     

What is the feeling with Dennis Politic? Is there are reason why he hasn’t played yet?

I think Vale are just easing him in. But Clarke has been keen to stress he’s not signing players as ‘squad fillers’ in the window. Vale have spent their budget on a slightly smaller squad this season on the basis that all the players can do a job in the first team this season.  

And finally, what’s your score prediction?

I hate to sit on the fence but it’s so hard to predict. I’d be surprised if Vale don’t make six or seven changes, including a call up for right back James Gibbons on his return from a hamstring injury, and a recall for forward Devante Rodney who did well in that 6-3 win last season that I promise not to mention again.

Plus, Vale fans won’t be kidding themselves. Much will also depend on the strength of the Bolton line up.