The Valiants have completed their first move in the transfer window, bringing in familiar face Jake Taylor from Nottingham Forest on a three-and-a-half-year deal.
The midfielder scored seven goals for the Vale last season before having to return to his parent club early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The club successfully achieved Taylor’s signature whilst fighting off competition from other clubs and interim manager Danny Pugh was pleased to get the signing done.
“It is a great signing for the football club, he is at a great age. He has loads of football in him, he can get better and better as well which is a good thing so it is a really positive signing” Pugh said.
After the terrific 3-0 win over Grimsby on the weekend, Pugh and the rest of the playing staff will be looking to push on and use that result as a base going forward. Pugh feels Taylor can help the club continue to climb up the Sky Bet League Two table.
“That is exactly why he has come in. He can provide goals, he has done it before and there is no reason why he cannot do it again and give us an extra lift”.
“He has enjoyed it the previous time he has been here. He has done well here and it is a great opportunity for him to show everyone what he can do and what a good player he is”.
“He finds little pockets, he is hard to pick up. He runs forward, he runs into the opposition’s penalty area. He can score goals. He can score you tap ins but he has also scored a couple of crackers for us as well so we know exactly what he has got and hopefully he will produce more of the same”.
“He has got the lot really, he can do both sides of the game. He can defend and attack as well, he gives us more of a goal threat which I think will be a big thing” continued Pugh.
The three-and-a-half-year deal really solidifies the club’s belief in Taylor that he will become a standout player for Vale in the years to come.
Looking ahead to the Papa John’s Trophy fixture tomorrow, a stern test in League One outfit Sunderland is awaiting the Valiants. Vale were knocked out of last year’s competition at this stage but Pugh feels that this fixture will give a great opportunity for players to impress and stake a claim for the upcoming away league fixture, against Forest Green Rovers.
“It is a great opportunity, it is a great place to go and play. It is going to be a tough test against a very good opposition but the lads are desperate to play, they will all want to play whether they played on Saturday or not so it is going to be a good opportunity for whoever gets to start and obviously the lads coming off the bench”.
Pugh recognises the importance of this game and how it can benefit the team’s form in the league “It is very important we want to get into the habit of winning games again, obviously we won at the weekend and we want to maintain that momentum”.
Taylor has the chance to hit the ground running as Pugh confirmed today that he will be part of the squad for that upcoming game in the Papa John’s trophy on Tuesday night as the Valiants take on Sunderland.