Chris Martin targets Port Vale number one spot

Martin has fuly recovered from a dislocated shoulder injury

Port Vale goalkeeper Chris Martin is ready to challenge to Stuart Tomlinson for the number one shirt this season.

The 21-year-old stopper has fully recovered from a dislocated shoulder that he suffered in the final game of last season at Barnet.

He told BBC Radio Stoke: "We both get on well on and off the field but we are both after that shirt against Crawley."

Martin who was first-choice keeper in 2009-10 is the longest serving player at Vale and made 13 starts last season.

"I have always thrived on having competition for the number one spot," he adeed.

"We both want to make the manager Micky Adams decision hard to who he should put into the side for the start of the season."

Martin graduated through the youth set-up to make his debut in April 2008 and is now closing in on 100 senior appearances.

He started out at Nottingham Forest as a schoolboy and has also played on loan for non league Kidsgrove Athletic.

The Vale begin the 2011-12 League Two season at home to Crawley Town on Saturday.

Live match commentary on the game will be on BBC Radio Stoke on 94.6FM from 15:00 BST.