Source: PA
Bird back for Robins
Mark Yates has received mixed injury news as he prepares his Cheltenham side for the visit of stuttering Port Vale.
Skipper Michael Pook was this week told he is facing up to six weeks on the sidelines due to the calf injury he picked up in the first half of last Saturday`s 3-1 defeat at Bradford.
However David Bird returns from a hamstring lay-off and will be included in Yates` matchday 18, although whether he starts remains to be seen.
Fellow midfielders Frankie Artus (cracked fibula) and JJ Melligan also played 60 minutes for the reserves in midweek and are in contention to start having both began proceedings on the bench at Valley Parade.
Defender Martin Riley (hamstring) is back in training but unlikely to figure against a Vale outfit winless in four, while top scorer Wes Thomas (thigh) continues to make good progress but remains a fortnight or so away from his comeback.
Vale striker Justin Richards returns to Whaddon Road to face his former employers, whom he helped save from relegation last term with 15 crucial goals, although he has not found the net in his last eight games.
