Argyle's Tolaj set to make his return to Vale

VALIANTS REPORTER EXPECTING A WARM WELCOME FOR STRIKER

- By CHRIS ERRINGTON

LORENT Tolaj started the first four League One games of this season for Port Vale before Plymouth Argyle met the £1.2 million release clause for the Swiss striker and took him to Home Park to be their new number nine.

The 24-year-old will return to his former club for the first time for a bottom-of-the-table clash at Vale Park on Saturday lunchtime (12.30pm).

Ona personal level, the transfer to the Pilgrims has worked out well for Tolaj. He has already justified the fee paid for him, scoring eight goals in all competitions, but it has come in a struggling side.

Argyle’s plight would have been even worse had it not been for the contribution of Tolaj, who if you include his goal for Port Vale in a 2-1 home defeat by Stevenage in August is the joint top scorer in League One with Mason Burstow of Bolton Wanderers and Barnsley's Davis Keillor-Dunn on seven apiece.

Tolaj played an important part in Port Vale’s promotion from League Two last term as runners-up to Don-caster Rovers. He joined the Staf-fordshire club in August 2024 and went on to get 15 goals in 34 starts and seven substitute appearances.

So he will be back at the scene of some happy memories for him when Argyle try to end a six-match losing run at Vale Park this weekend. Ahead of the match, Herald Sport spoke to Mike Baggaley, Port Vale writer for The Valiant on Substack, about Tolaj’s return.

How much of an impact did Lorent Tolaj’s transfer to Argyle in August have on Port Vale early in the season?