Manager Praises Midfielder For Effort On & Off The Pitch

, who he has described as a ‘model professional’.Michael Brownhas urged the club’s younger players to look up to  Rob PagePort Vale boss 

The 38-year-old midfielder has made 37 appearances for the Valiants so far this season and has scored five goals, including the winner at home to Rochdale in November.

His effort on the pitch has endeared him to Vale’s fans, while his dedication and commitment off the pitch has impressed coaching staff and teammates alike.

Speaking to the press on Monday, Valiants manager Page praised Brown for his hard work, saying: “He’s a model professional. 

“I hope that the youth team and the young pros that we have got are sat in the stands watching that on Friday and all of us, the shift that every single one of the players put in but especially him.

“He’s last to leave the training pitch, the ground with his recovery. He sits in an ice bath every single day, does things right. The older you get, the recovery becomes more important.

“But for him, he’s a great professional hence why he’s still playing at 38.”

Heading into the final two games of the Sky Bet League One season, Page insisted it’s important to ensure his players are at their physical peak in time for match day.

“You don’t push and push and push at this stage of the season, it’s about managing each session, making sure they’re firing on all cylinders come three o’clock on Saturday,” he said.

“That’s when you need them all right, not on a Tuesday or being 100 miles per hour and steaming into things on a Thursday or Friday.

“We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do through the week to get us in the right frame of mind for the Saturday.”