Ashley Vincent admits he has benefited from tough pre-season

Ashley Vincent says he is really enjoying his time here at Port Vale so far, but  admitted he has never been through a pre-season like he has just endured under boss Micky Adams.

He said: “It was a shock to the system. I’ve been a pro for ten years now and worked under some tough managers and been through some gruelling pre-seasons, but I have never been through anything like it – it was really tough.

“On the first day we went to the hills and he said ‘I am just breaking you in’. I have gone home some days and gone straight to bed, but there hasn’t been one day where I have thought ‘Not tomorrow’.

“I relished coming in the next day and long may it continue after going through a frustrating eighteen months or so previously.

“Micky Adams told me it was going to be tough and true to his word, that’s what it was. I needed that more than anything else.

“I have had pre-seasons before where you are kind of looked after and not wanting to pick up an injury, so they have not been so tough, but I think that would have left me lagging behind due to the fact I didn’t play many games last year.

“The boys are sticking together and there are some really good boys in the dressing room and I think if we can all stay fit and things off the field can get sorted out  and the manager is able to manoeuvre a little bit and bring some more players in we can have a really good season.

“For now, it is about the next game, which is tomorrow and it’s knuckling down and trying to get three more points.

“We are going to play a tough team away from home tomorrow night and you never know what will happen.

“We have started well, but if we don’t win tomorrow than it is just a good first game. It’s about getting some points away from home in the next two games and seeing where we are after about ten games.”