Port Vale’s James Plant reflects on his first league start for Vale after Tuesday night’s 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town at Portman Road.

• James Plant | “Coming through the academy, it just makes me proud that I have represented them, and [rewarded] them for all the work they’ve put in to help me grow as a player.”
• Port Vale youngster speaks to the media after his first league start for the club.
• Plant: “I ran as hard as I could, did what I could with the ball – we wanted to come out with the result – unfortunately we didn’t, but we did ourselves proud.”

The 18-year-old was handed his league start for the club against Ipswich Town on Tuesday night after making two appearances from the bench in our last two fixtures

When talking to the media after the match, Plant expressed his pride at the achievement and thanked the club and his family for helping him along the way.

Plant said: “I gave my Dad a call, he and my Granddad come and watch all my games, so they drove down as fast as they could and my family at home watched it on ifollow.

“I just want to thank my family and all the coaches as well; I couldn’t have done it without the academy.

“Coming through the academy, it just makes me proud that I have represented them and [rewarded] them for all the work they’ve put in to help me grow as a player.”

The young midfielder put in a stellar display in the middle of the park for the Valiants, and he is ready to build on his impressive performance in the final three games of the season.

“I just knew I needed a decent start, and I could build myself into it because it’s different to coming off the bench, which I’m used to. That’s what I thought I did, started quite well, and then grew into the game.

“I ran as hard as I could, did what I could with the ball – we wanted to come out with the result – unfortunately we didn’t, but we did ourselves proud.”

“I ran myself into the ground in the first half then `I thought I might have to slow down a bit in the second.

“I’d play tomorrow, I’d play again tonight, I just want to keep going now and I don’t want the season to end.”