Ikpeazu returns to Watford after “unpredictable” Vale loan spell

Striker Uche Ikpeazu has returned to parent club Watford after Vale opted not to try and extend his loan at the club.

Ikpeazu started brightly for the Valiants with six goals in his first fourteen games, but he has featured less in recent weeks due to the form of striker AJ Leitch-Smith.

We don’t know from a consistent level what we are going to get from one minute to the next, so I think it is the right decision. It maybe frees up movement now to bring people in…

Manager Rob Page told the official Port Vale website: “Uche started off really well, dipped away a little bit, got sent off and Ajay came in. That is the nature of the game, somebody grabs the jersey, scores the goals and then you have got to be patient.

“It was frustrating from his point of view, because he has got pressure from Watford maybe saying he should be playing

“He has got pressure from himself and his agent, because his contract is up at the end of the season and he needs to be playing to put himself in the shop window.

“I have got to be true to the lads that are playing and doing well. I think Ajay brought us, and brings us, something totally different from what Uche does.

“I think he plays well in the team, whereas, all respect to Uche, sometimes it is a bit unpredictable what we get from him.

“We don’t know from a consistent level what we are going to get from one minute to the next, so I think it is the right decision. It maybe frees up movement now to bring people in.”