They have been playing in games behind closed doors. They don’t come in right out of the cold. “I think that is the beauty of having utilised the squad through the course of the season so far. When a door shuts, the door opens for other players to come in and seize opportunities.
We’ll see how things develop.”ĪT THE OTHER END OF THE PITCH, YOU ARE MISSING NATHAN SMITH THROUGH SUSPENSION. We are pleased to have him and pleased he is working hard and has settled into the group well. “But I am certainly not getting involved in any individual contract issues. “What I will say is his attitude has been exemplary, he has done very well and we will enjoy him while we have got him. He is their player and is on loan with us. “I am not going to speak about another club. WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT WHERE THE FUTURE MAY LIE FOR HIM, EVEN HERE? THERE’S BEEN LOTS OF PRESS THIS WEEK ABOUT DENNIS POLITIC TURNING DOWN A CONTRACT AT BOLTON. “But that is football, there is nothing you can do with contact injuries and we will progress without him while he is out.” That is disappointing for us, and very disappointing for James, he is devastated. “It is unfortunate, it is a broken bone in his foot so he is going to be out for a substantial period. “We have one or two injuries creeping in which is always a bit of concern so, it gives a little bit of strength in depth into our squad and players need to step up to the plate, those that come in for the injured boys, and take the opportunities.”ĬAN YOU BRING US UP TO DATE WITH JAMES WILSON WHO HAD TO COME OFF LAST SATURDAY? “If it does then we are in for a successful season because that is where we are after a third, but we have got a long way to go. It is early days, the group has given me everything and that needs to continue. There have been some terrific performances, I am really pleased with that third of the season, but ‘proud’ is when you achieve, in my opinion. “Proud’ is probably a little bit too far. OVERALL, IS IT A SEASON YOU CAN LOOK BACK SO FAR AND BE PROUD OF? WHAT’S BEEN THE MOST ENJOYABLE PART OF THIS YEAR FOR YOU?ĭarrell Clarke: “The group I am working with and the work ethic of the lads and the staff, everyone as one as a football club coming together and trying to bring success in each game we play.”
Asking questions about issues on and off the pitch were Phil Bowers of BBC Radio Stoke, Mike Baggaley of The Sentinel and StokeonTrentLive, Ryan Greenhalgh of Staffordshire University and George Andrews of HitMix Radio. Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke spoke to the media ahead of Saturday’s trip to Oldham.