In-form Nathan Smith – I’m enjoying my football

In-form Port Vale centre-half Nathan Smith says he is enjoying his football more than at any other time in his career.

The dependable youngster has been a stand-out performer this season alongside veteran Leon Legge and is a contender for the Vale player of the season award.

The morale’s high and I think I’m enjoying my football probably the most I have in my career…

Speaking after being awarded the sponsors’ man of the match award for the win over Leyton Orient, Smith told the official Port Vale website: “Winning games makes them more enjoyable, it makes that feel good factor around the club, that little bit of a buzz in the changing room, the morale’s high and I think I’m enjoying my football probably the most I have in my career.

“It’s been not good enough the last few years and everyone around the club knows that and I think it’s time to get us back where we belong, I think I’m getting the most out of it and I think it’s bringing the best out of me and the players around me are helping and talking and I think it’s one of them that I’m enjoying and I think I’m going to take the most from it.

“Before these last three games we were three points off third and three points off the play-offs or something like that, which goes to show how tight it is and we’re there ready to pounce as soon as a team makes a hick-up or loses a few games, we’re going to be there to push on it and take their position.

“I think you’ve got to take your hat off to the fans, it’s been three or four years of doom and gloom and to stick with us and to drag us through games like they have, especially at home, our home form shows it’s perhaps not just to do with the amount of fans that are there dragging us through, to get a little bit of praise is always nice but I think we owe them one and hopefully we get we deserve at the end of the year.”