Manager says development and progress at the forefront of the Vale’s mind as they continue to adapt to life back in the third tier, ahead of Saturday’s trip to Peterborough United.

• Darrell Clarke | “We have a great appetite to compete”
• Port Vale manager previews his side’s trip to Peterborough United and discusses the Vale Academy, backroom staff and competition within his squad
• Clarke: “I think I have a talented squad that we will continue to develop and get better in each game, in each training session every day to try and improve what we do.”

Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke says his squad will continue to improve, develop and get better with time following a positive start to life back in League One after a five-year absence.

Back-to-back victories against Shrewsbury Town moved the Vale onto 12 points from nine matches and secured progress in the Papa Johns Trophy with Clarke’s side now five-unbeaten in all competitions.

Reflecting on his side’s start to the campaign, Clarke said in Friday’s press conference:

“I think I have a talented squad that we will continue to develop and get better in each game, in each training session and every day to try and improve what we do.

“We are enjoying the journey so far; we have a couple of key injured players back as well which is a bonus. As you have seen the other day, competition for places is quite high.

“The message to the players is pretty clear; the professionalism has to be a given – working hard every single day – and we want them to become better players, want them to have the opportunity to show they can be players that keep moving the club forward, because even though the environment and the culture is spot on, the demands are even higher from myself and the staff because we want them to be part of the journey. The camaraderie and spirit in the group is going to give them the best chance to do that.”

Saturday’s hosts Peterborough United are back in the third tier after narrowly suffering relegation from the Championship last season.

Grant McCann, who won the League One title with Hull City two years ago, has seen his Posh side win three of their opening four home league matches and Clarke says the healthy nature of the challenge that presents itself to the Vale will be met with a strong appetite, with his side facing Peterborough and then fellow League One promotion chasers Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County in their next three fixtures.

“You can see from how tight the table is that it is a tough division,” Clarke added. “There are teams up there who are miles ahead in terms of infrastructure and budgets but that gives you a great appetite to compete against those teams.

“We have a tough test coming up but we’ll look no further ahead than Saturday’s game against Peterborough United."