Captain looking forward after overcoming injury
Port Vale captain Doug Loft was pleased to see through 90 minutes in the 2-0 victory over Alfreton Town after the midfielder returned from a slight Achilles injury.
Loft and his 10 other team-mates all completed 90 minutes against a strong and robust Alfreton Town side and the Vale captain is pleased everyone has come through it with a week to go until the opening match against Brentford.
“It was good to get 90 minutes under our belt, they are obviously a good team.
“They have played some good teams during pre-season and done well.
“It was a tough game, especially first-half we played really well and worked on some things ahead of the season,” he told Valiant Player.
He added: “Everyone looked fit and sharp and you need a few 90 minutes before the season and that’s what a lot of the boys have done today.”
Manager Micky Adams had said before the matches at Alfreton Town and Leek Town that each starting 11 would complete 90 minutes and that was the case.
“It was hard, I knew I was going to play 90 minutes, it was good to get under my belt and I felt good.
“I can’t wait for the new season because I cannot wait for pre-season to be over,” he said.
The two matches at Alfreton and Leek represented Vale’s last first-team friendlies ahead of the new season and Loft is now focused on working on the training ground ahead of the big kick-off next Saturday.
He said: “(Next week) is about getting your sharpness and things that he (Micky Adams) wants us to do on the first game of the season, which we will work on this week and prepare right for Saturday.”
Carl Dickinson made his Vale debut, starting the game at left-back before being paired at the heart of the defence with goalscorer Chris Robertson for the second-half.
Loft was impressed with the former Watford players performance.
Loft said: ”He is a very good player, I was very impress with him (Dickinson), I played with him down the left and thought he linked-up well, I like playing with him.”
He added: “You need that (Versatility) in the modern game, if everybody can play in a few positions, I think we have got a lot of players like that, so it’s good to have.”
Watch the full interview on Valiant Player.