New signing Will Atkinson says he's happy to back at Vale Park and is ready to play whenever called upon by Port Vale manager John Askey.

Atkinson, who will wear the number 12 shirt for the Valaints, will be available for selection tomorrow for our home game against Morcambe after signing a short-term deal with the club.

Now 30-years-old, Atkinson admits that there is now an added responsibility as he looks to use his experience to help the younger players in the squad.

The versatile midfielder also claims that he has matured as a player since his loan spell at Vale Park back in 2007.

Having spent a large amount of his playing career in and around League Two, Atkinson has been involved in three promotions across the football league and hopes to implement his winning mentality to the squad.

He said: "I'm matured, I'm better on the ball probably, I like to keep the ball, keep it moving, but yes hopefully I've got the same enthusiasm, well I know I've got the same enthusiasm, I want to win.

"I think I made my league debut for Port Vale and I'm very thankful for them for letting me do that but I'm matured, I've gained experience in this league and leagues above and I hope I can bring that to the club.

"I think you've got to get the mix right and there are some players, some good young players in this team and in this squad and like you said, the manager has brought me in because he feels I've got the experience to help them."

Since returning to the club after two weeks training with the squad, Atkinson admits how impressed he is with the professionalism surrounding the club.

Despite being without a club recently, Atkinson kept himself fit over the summer as he completed a full programme of pre-season training with Doncaster Rovers.

With his eyes now firmly fixed on making his debut for the Vale, Atkinson has emphasised how excited he is to get back out in front of the Vale crowd.

He said: "I've been impressed with how professional it is, everything is done right you know, the attention to detail is perfect, we'll look at all the opposition and look at things like that, it's just been really good.

"I've looked after myself and I like to think of myself as a fairly fit lad anyway, obviously match time is different but I'll be ready whenever called for.

"That's the biggest thing I've missed in recent months, three o'clock on a Saturday, the buzz you get when you wake up, just preparing for a game and like you said, just getting out there on the pitch."