Defender Adam Yates has no qualms about being left out of a winning side as he continues to battle Richard Duffy for the right-back spot.

Yates was reinstated into the starting 11 last Saturday as Vale beat Coventry City but had previously been ousted by Duffy for the games against Bury, Carlisle United and Leyton Orient.

After starting in the win against Coventry Yates is hopeful of keeping the right-back spot.

“I think I’ve played well this season, we were conceding goals and looking back at it I was probably the only defender the gaffer was able to change and he had to change something and I accept that.

“I look back at the games, I didn’t play in the Bury game and the team won, the team won at Carlisle.

“I am not going to complain about things like that, then they lost at Leyton Orient and I was back in,” he explained.

When asked if it was fair that he had been dropped for those games Yates believes that the importance of the team comes first.

“They sent a team out to beat Bury and got a result and the gaffer chose to use that team at Carlisle and they got a result there, I can’t complain.”

Yates admits that if he had been dropped after being part of a winning he would have felt aggrieved.

“I’d be a bit aggrieved if I was in the team, beat Bury and we’d won and I was out on the Saturday or if we won on the Saturday and then out for the Leyton Orient game.

“I’ve got no qualms it’s about the team coming first.”

Yates will be hoping to continue at right-back when Vale face Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park today and says Vale need to start quickly or else they could find themselves in trouble.

“They’ve not had a great start; I’ve seen they’ve got a few injuries.

“The team has not got a lot of confidence but I am sure the performance against Stoke will give them that.

“I think Tranmere gave a great account of themselves and we’ve got to be right up for the game.

“Make no mistake if we start slowly we’ll be in for a real tough afternoon.”