Despite making a fantastic late comeback at Burton Albion to see them through to the third round of the FA Cup, an injury to David Amoo adds further woes to Port Vale's forward options.
The Valiants’ injury situation
The 30-year-old was forced off during the 2-1 victory with 16 minutes remaining with a hamstring problem and if out of action, he will join strikers Jamie Proctor, James Wilson and Cheltenham Town loanee George Lloyd on the sidelines.
So far this season the Valiants have scored the joint third amount of goals in League Two with 32 which averages 1.68 goals per game.
However with Proctor having claimed six and Wilson seven of these in all competitions, there is no doubt that they will be missed especially over the busy Christmas period.
Both forwards’ consistent clinical finishing and the danger they cause in the area has helped carry three points over the line for the club in certain games this season.
Now with Amoo potentially absent, Darrell Clarke's options in the forwardline are limited with only Devante Rodney and Dennis Politic being the only current players in the squad fit to fill in those roles.
This means that in January recruitment in the striking roles may have to be made to ensure that Vale's promotion hopes remain in tact whether they are on a loan or permanent basis.
"We are certainly suffering at the top end"
Following the impressive win at the Pirelli Stadium, thanks to a brace by substitute Politic, Clarke admitted that the squad are suffering in the forward positions at the moment.
"I am a bag of nerves at the minute because we have got a lot of injuries at the top end of the pitch.
"We lose David Amoo today and Dennis (Politic) is 70% fit which is one of the reasons he didn't start the game. He came off injured against Rotherham United.
"We are certainly suffering at the top end so I just can't afford to risk so many of my forward thinking players having already lost three centre forwards and it looks like I have lost a fourth now.
"I am trying to tread as carefully as I can and i am sure my supporters are saying why is he (Politic) not starting and I get that but I have got to be careful.
"We have got a league campaign, we have got game after game coming up.
"We have got the Christmas period and unless someone is opening up the transfer window a little bit early, we are going to have to manage one or two."
The 43-year-old went on to say that with the current injury crisis at the club, his squad will have to learn to adapt.
"We will keep working away, we will find a way. It is up to me and my coaching staff to find them ways.
"Testament to the group. That is why we don't build 11 players at this football club. We build a squad of players and we will have to adapt and if that means playing with no centre forwards we will have to do it."