Dawson set for league bow

Photo: Jon Coluccio

Craig Dawson in action for Dale during a pre-season fixture against Manchester United's youngsters.

Teenage Rochdale defender Craig Dawson is set to make his first appearance in the Football League for Rochdale's season opener at Port Vale tomorrow (Saturday 8 August, kick off 3pm).

With Rory McArdle out with a dislocated shoulder for at least the first month of the season, Dawson is expected to deputise for the Northern Ireland international.

Dale boss Keith Hill has a chance between Dawson and Marcus Holness, who has league experience, but Dawson has featured more prominently in Dale's pre-season fixtures and started last Saturday at Southport in the same side that is expected to take to the field tomorrow.

As well as McArdle, Hill will also be without the services of Ciaran Toner, as the midfielder, whose performances were a major success in his first season at Spotland last term, is suffering from shin splints.

With Hill's squad already hit by injuries, his bench tomorrow is likely contain a number of the youngsters that have featured regularly in pre-season. Football League clubs must field seven substitutes this season, so the likes of Callum Byrne, Chris Brown and Josh Brizell are likely to feature in the Dale dugout.

Port Vale meanwhile have their own injury problems. Teenager Chris Martin will start the game in goal, with Joe Anyon still a few weeks away from full fitness after breaking his leg last season, while new signing and club captain Tommy Fraser is recovering from an ankle injury.

Big-name summer signing Geoff Horsfield is set to make his Vale bow up front, alongside Doug Loft and full-back Kris Taylor, who signed a short-term contract at Vale Park earlier this week.

Rochdale have never beaten Port Vale at Vale Park, with their most recent visit ending in a last-minute 2-1 defeat over the Christmas period last season. The statistics are also stacked against Dale, with the Valiants having not lost an opening day fixture for four years, while Rochdale haven't scored on the first day of the season in each of the last three years.

New manager Micky Adams bids to return Vale to League One following their relegation in 2008, after what could be termed a disastrous first year in League Two under Dean Glover as the Valiants laboured to 18th place last term.