Port Vale winger Cristian Montano is enjoying his switch to left-back
Port Vale winger Cristian Montano says he is enjoying his return to the left-back position. Montano has been employed as left-back in the team’s last two games after Adam Crookes was ill and then injured.
Crookes, a summer signing from Nottingham Forest, started the season as first-choice left-back but with young left-back Ryan Campbell-Gordon on loan at Ilkeston Town, there is no clear defensive cover for the 22 year-old left-sided defender.
Vale will continue to use Montano in that position in the meantime. The winger was used as an attacking left-back under previous Port Vale manager Neil Aspin and now looks likely to reprise that role – at least until Crookes regains match fitness.
However, Montano appears to be relishing the opportunity as he told the official Port Vale website: “The gaffer spoke to me just before the team meeting on Tuesday night, about how I felt playing left-back, and weirdly the night before that, knowing that Crookesy was ill , I knew I was going to play there, so I prepared myself mentally.
“I enjoy it really, I’m someone who likes to play football, and someone who likes to get on the ball and I feel like from left-back I’ve got the opportunity to actually get on the ball more and run at players from quite deep and actually start play sometimes.
“I do enjoy playing there, I don’t mind where I play as long as I’m playing football really, but if it is left-back then it’s going to be left-back, because I enjoyed the last time I played there and I’m enjoying it again.”