Page: Nathan Smith in contention for first-team place
Port Vale manager Rob Page says that youngster Nathan Smith is in contention for the first team but if he’s not ready the club will line up another loan spell.
Smith had a hugely successful loan spell with Torquay United last season – a vindication of Page’s belief that young players benefit from loan spells rather than reserve football.
He will be given the opportunity to prove himself and then the rest is over to him…
Page told the Sentinel that he believes central defence is the best position for the versatile defender commenting: “At the minute, I don’t see him as a full back at our level, I think he is a centre-half. “He will be given the opportunity to prove himself and then the rest is over to him.
“Through pre-season he will be given an opportunity and if we think he is ready then brilliant. If not we will have a look at it again and, if there are clubs that we think can benefit him and give him that next step for experience then we will look at it.”