Darrell Clarke says Bolton loanee Dennis Politic has benefitted from friendly game runout
Manager Darrell Clarke said that loanee Dennis Politic “needed game minutes” after his long injury lay-off but Port Vale fans can expect to see him feature as the season progressed.
Bolton Wanderers forward Politic damaged his anterior cruciate ligament and was ruled out for the whole of the 2020–21 season. He joined the Valiants on a season-long loan deal in August but has yet to have any minutes on the pitch in a first-team fixture.
The Valiants took part in a behind closed doors friendly game against Premier League side Burnley this week which Vale won 2-0. Clarke told the media: “It was a proper game, challenges flying in everywhere. Even their coaching staff said it was a lot better than an under-23s game because it was a proper game. My lads were fully committed and there were some good performances that makes me do a lot of thinking.”
The Vale manager revealed the Port Vale starting line-up as: “Aidan Stone in goal, Aaron Martin and Ryan Johnson at centre half, Gibbo played 45 minutes, Danny Amos played, we had Ellis (Jones, youth player) and Jake Taylor in the middle of the park and played a 4-4-2. We had Dennis Politic and David Amoo wide and Eden Bailey and George Lloyd up top.”
Discussing Politic, Clarke added: “It was his first 90 minutes for I don’t know how long. Everybody gets keen, don’t they, when they see a player and want to know why he’s not playing straight away.
“But I understood that Dennis needed game minutes. He has had 90 minutes now, he has been on the bench in a lot of games and I am sure we will see more of Dennis as the season progresses.”
Watch the full press conference