On-loan Chester goalkeeper Sam Hornby has been recalled by parent club Port Vale.

Hornby has made 15 appearances for the Blues since his arrival in December and established himself as Marcus Bignot's number one gloveman, but Vale boss Neil Aspin has opted to recall the stopper early from his loan deal in order to help the League Two strugglers in their battle to avoid relegation into non-league.

This latest first-team exit leaves Bignot with just one recognised goalkeeper at Chester in the form of Andy Firth, who is on-loan from Liverpool and yet to make an appearance for the Blues.

The Vale Park outfit are currently five points above the drop zone in the fourth tier, while Chester are six points adrift of safety in the National League following Saturday's 3-2 defeat at Dagenham and Redbridge.