Johnson in squad

20 August 2010 14:30
Port Vale have called youth team goalkeeper Sam Johnson into their squad to face Southend after Chris Martin went down with a stomach bug. Johnson, 17, joined Vale after being released by local rivals Stoke three years ago and will provide back-up to Stuart Tomlinson at Roots Hall. Head of youth Mark Grew told the club's official website: "Chris Martin started training on Thursday morning and began to get severe stomach pains and it developed into sickness and diarrhoea. We felt we didn't want him on the coach going down to Southend as he could have passed it on to the other lads. "We have brought Sam Johnson in. He has been training with the first team this year and has impressed the gaffer, so he has no problems about bringing him into the squad. "He is growing - he is six foot six now. He is everything the Premier League clubs are looking for and he is only 17 years of age. I think he is a good young goalkeeper and I think he is going to make a good living out of the game."

Source: PA