A leader – Port Vale manager’s praise for Nathan Smith
Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke had special praise for defender Nathan Smith after the side’s 3-1 away victory over Crawley Town.
Smith has returned to form in recent games playing alongside veteran Leon Legge. The 24 year-old was on target for Vale’s second goal in the away victory at Crawley.
He is someone I am really pleased to be working with, so I am delighted that he got his goal…
Speaking after the match, Clarke commented: “Smithy is a winner; he is a leader. I think he is back in form now which is pleasing. He has been at the club a long time and I think when you have been at a club a long time, you can get a little bit of undeserved stick at times and I think with Nathan he is a born winner.
“He is someone I am really pleased to be working with, so I am delighted that he got his goal.”
Madeley-born Smith has been a professional at the club since 2014. He has won the both the player of the season and young player of the season awards in that time making 241 appearances and scoring fourteen goals. He has been a near ever-present in the side this season apart from a spell out when he was forced to self-isolate.