SIMON EASTWOOD can tonight give Town a first-hand assessment of potential FA Cup opponents Port Vale.

Town’s 20-year-old back-up keeper is on loan at Bradford City, who have a home tie against Micky Adams’ side in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy northern area quarter final.

One of only three ever-presents this season for Stuart McCall’s Valley Parade side, Eastwood has already kept a clean sheet against Vale in their goalless League II meeting back in August.

He was also a penalty shoot-out hero in their previous JPT victory over Notts County and he is now thinking in terms of maybe extending his loan spell (currently until January) until the end of the season.

Eastwood, who as a Town player has taken some stick from some sections of the Valley Parade faithful, is behind Alex Smithies and Matt Glennon in the Galpharm pecking order and explained: “I’m glad to be playing week in and week out – it’s a real bonus for me.

“I know I’m from Huddersfield, which a lot of supporters don’t like, but I’m here to play well for Bradford and that’s what I want to do.

“I’m definitely the man for the job. As a young keeper fingers are going to be pointed at you if things aren’t going well.

“You’ve got to be mentally strong in this game because fans can get onto you. If you are not strong, there’s no point in doing it and I’m learning all the time. I’ve played a lot and we are doing better as a team.”

As for the loan, Eastwood added: “A lot can change in football and I’ve still got 10 or 12 games left before the loan finishes, but I want to stay if I can and I want the fans to know that.”

On tonight’s tie, Eastwood would not be fazed if it went to penalties again. After a 2-2 draw against Notts in the last round, they won 3-2 from the spot.

“I wouldn’t mind another go if it came to penalties,” he said. “It’s a big game for us. We were never going to win the FA Cup, but we know we’ve got a good chance in this competition.

“It would be nice to keep the run going, although our priority is the league. We want to get up there around the play-off positions and believe we are good enough to do that.”

Town, of course, have been drawn away to either Port Vale or Stevenage in the second round of the FA Cup on the weekend of November 28.

Those two will replay at Stevenage a week tonight, when Town boss Lee Clark or one of his staff will be present.

Town will be on a revenge mission against Vale, who knocked them out in the first round at the Galpharm last season. Adams yesterday signed a two-year extension to his contract at the club.