ZAC Ashworth will be available for Wanderers’ trip to Port Vale after recovering from a thigh problem.

Ian Evatt confirmed that the on-loan West Brom defender will be part of the squad for Saturday’s game, with Kyle Dempsey and Dion Charles also available after sitting out the midweek trouncing of Manchester United’s Under-21s.

Josh Dacres-Cogley has not trained with his partner Madeline giving birth to their first child, Leroux on Tuesday evening.

Mother and son are still in hospital and Evatt said the wing-back would be given all the time he needed before making a return.

Wanderers are still without George Johnston (knee), Ricardo Santos (hamstrng), Carlos Mendes Gomes (hamstring), Paris Maghoma (thigh) and Joel Coleman (calf).

“We came through unscathed the other night and Dion and Demps seem to have improved this week, which I guess is the first sign of positivity in a rough couple of weeks,” Evatt said.

“We have talked at length about this week being all hands on deck trying to get through these three games with three positive results, then the cavalry will be coming over the hill following the international break, which probably comes at a good time for us.

“For now it is full focus on Port Vale on Saturday and then two very important home games.”

Port Vale started the season with a 7-0 hammering at Barnsley but have since recovered impressively to take their place in the top six of the early League One table.

“Negative results can happen, you only have to look at us earlier in the season against Wigan – one-off, strange results, and that certainly was one,” Evatt said.

“We know what is coming with Port Vale, we know what is coming there. It is an intimidating place at times, it is aggressive, we know everything that is going to come our way.

“We just have to make sure we deal with it and our sole focus is on ourselves and our performance level. Tuesday was excellent, there was lots to like. People might throw shade on the fact it was an Under-21s team but that team cost an awful lot of money, qualified for the latter stages last season of that competition and also beat Stockport, who are a very good side in League Two.

“We did a lot right. It is all hands on deck and the moment and there are players playing with injuries, playing without the necessary recover because we haven’t got the cover at the moment but that situation should change very soon.”