Loft wants more goals as Vale travel to Prenton Park
Vale captain Doug Loft believes it is no coincidence that he has found the net three times in the opening 10 games of the season.
The Vale skipper scored just one goal in Vale's promotion campaign but has already overtaken that tally in the opening two months of the season.
Loft opened his account on the first day of the season against Brentford, the 26-year-old then went on to score against Bradford City and last week’s opponents, Coventry City.
Loft’s involvement in the attacking midfield role seems to have been the catalyst for his goalscoring exploits.
He said: “I am not bothered in the slightest (where I play); as long as I am getting the ball I am happy.
“I got a goal from their at the weekend so wherever I play I’ll do a job for the team.
“I’d take three scuffs over one ‘worldie, I am happy, I’ve been working hard in training and I think I am getting in better positions than I was last year to get the chances.”
Despite being well on his way to recording a season’s best goal tally the Vale captain is disappointed with some of his missed chances.
“I am a bit disappointed to be honest that I haven’t had more because I think I’ve had a lot of chances and a lot of near misses.
“I probably should have more than three!”
The versatile midfielder has been utilised in the centre and on the left of midfield, Loft admitted that despite being predominantly left-footed all three have come with his right boot.
“They’ve all come from my right foot which is the thing that is shocking me more.
“I’ll just keep getting in positions and I am confident I can get more.
“I probably didn’t have a shot for 20 games when I was at left-back but I’ve probably had about 50 from the start of the season.
“I’m definitely getting more chances and I am enjoying playing higher up the pitch,” he said.
Loft admits he is enjoying his football at the moment and is eager to carry through the post-match buzz of beating Coventry City when he leads the side out against Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park on Saturday (3pm).
“I am enjoying my football, there’s a great buzz around the place at the moment.
“There are no easy games in this league so we know every game is going to be tricky and a tough test.
“We’ve got to be sharp, we’ve been working hard this week and hopefully we can take that into Saturday.
“They’re a hard team to place against, two banks of four. They’ll be hard to break down,” Loft added.