Young Port Vale defender admits to up and down season so far

Youngster James Gibbons has told the official Port Vale website that this season has been “up and down” for him.

Gibbons started the season but dropped out of contention following the addition of loanee Mitch Clark and the use of Connell Rawlinson at right-back.

It was always going to be hard coming back into a team that was doing well, and it was a settled back four as well – It’s now up to me to keep my place…

However, Gibbons made a return when veteran Leon Legge missed out through epilepsy and has impressed in recent games.

Gibbons commented: “It’s been very up and down for me personally. Last year I was a regular in the side and this season I’ve been in and out, but that’s down to my performances and the competition for places.

“Various players have featured at right-back and we’ve used different formations, so the other lads are more than capable of filling in for me.

“I’ve been unlucky with an injury as well and that kept me out for a month. It was always going to be hard coming back into a team that was doing well, and it was a settled back four as well – It’s now up to me to keep my place.

“I have been all right since I’ve come back in, but as a squad we were way off it at Morecambe. However, you just have to try and concentrate on grinding out a result, and we did that last Saturday. To come back from 2-0 down and pick up a point shows signs of a good team.”