Michael Brown has said he has not yet completed building Port Vale’s squad for the upcoming season and still has “pieces to put in the jigsaw”.
After an already busy summer transfer window, the gaffer has reiterated that the squad is not finished with more signings likely.
The transfer window shuts on August 31st with the Valiants looking to add before next Thursday’s deadline.
In a team swamped by recent injuries, Brown has celebrated the minutes which he has given to youth players this season but says he is desperate to add to his ever-growing squad.
“It’s a new team”, said Brown.
“We have had five injuries, which makes a big difference. We are still waiting to get those pieces of the jigsaw.
“You could argue and say that there is still half a team to come, which will help the boys out there.
“Some of the younger boys are playing lots of minutes when maybe they would have only been in and out. But we do want to push that, we are trying to push youth. We are one for the kids coming through; we have given them every chance and will continue to do so.”
With the window soon shutting, the manager knows what he wants within the squad and reiterates that Vale are approaching players every day.
He said: “I think that it is there for all to see. You hear what people say of certain areas and we understand that, we see it and we have until next Thursday.
“We are approaching players everyday; we’ve said all along that that is what we are trying to do. We are still in our budget and we are trying to improve. That won’t stop until the window closes.”
Ever since the victory over Crawley Town on the first day of the league season, Brown has known that it will take time for a new squad to gel and has not changed his views.
“I said from the very first day that we are trying to build a team. Yes, we won at Crawley, but like I say, that did not change my view, I said we still need to improve.
“It is going to take time, it is a brand new squad and my view is still the same."