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Port Vale are running the rule over midfield trialists Courtney Pitt and Brent Rahim.


Both played in last night's 2-1 reserve win at Crewe, a victory secured by goals from Hector Sam and Craig James. Pitt, aged 23, spent last season at Boston and has also had spells at Portsmouth and Oxford, while Rahim, aged 27, is a Trinidad and Tobago international who has spent the last two years with Falkirk after spells with West Ham and Northampton.

The Valiants are not desperate for new players after a summer of squad strengthening, but are keeping their options open.

Assistant manager Dean Glover said: "We are always going to look at people because if we get injuries we have to look at personnel and this is one way of finding out who we would like to take.

"Also, if they do well when they do come then, who knows, we might take them on.

"Courtney hasn't agreed a contract at Boston so he's looking for somewhere to get fixed up. We have had a look at him and he has done quite well.

"Brent has been with us for a couple of weeks and is a good friend of Hector Sam. He has been looking to get a club somewhere and we have been trying to help him. He has been doing OK, so who knows what will happen?"

Levi Reid also turned out for the Valiants. However Reid, who was released at the end of the season, was using the game to step up his match fitness and has already signed for Stafford Rangers.

He has been joined there by Vale keeper Joe Anyon, who has gone out on loan to Marston Road after spending the final weeks of last season there and impressing.

Meanwhile, Chris Birchall will miss next Monday's home game against Brentford as he has been called into the Trinidad and Tobago squad for the August 17 World Cup qualifier away to the United States.

Striker Hector Sam has been left out of the squad for the game, but manager Martin Foyle expects the player to be recalled for the rest of the World Cup qualifying programme, starting at home to Guatemala on September 3.