Port Vale: McCombe ready to impress Adams
The new Valiants manager has recruited former Brighton midfielders Doug Loft and Tom Fraser after identifying midfield as the weakest area of the squad.
He now plans to turn his attention to the rest of the team, but McCombe is hoping for the chance to build on his impressive performances at the end of last season. The 24-year-old lost his place when boss Lee Sinnott was replaced by Dean Glover but fought back to win the chairman's player-of-the-year award.
McCombe said: "I was happy with the way I did in the second half of last season. But I want to play 40 games like that, not 15 or 20.
"A new manager means a clean slate for everyone, which will help some and hinder others.
"I've never met the manager, but that first week will be important for everyone. You never get a second chance to make a first impression."
Adams has also recruited right-back Adam Yates, in a deal initiated by Glover. But the new boss will kick off with largely the same squad which finished 18th in League Two last season.
However, Pontefract-born McCombe feels the players Adams has inherited can improve.
He said: "We definitely can because the squad is so young.
"I just want to start well because I am competing with Lee Collins, Gareth Owen and Luke Prosser for two places."
FORMER Hibernian midfielder Ross Chisholm has played down reports linking him with a move to Vale. The 21-year-old, who has been released by the Edinburgh club said: "I have seen the stories about Vale being interested, but I've not had any contact with them."
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