Port Vale: Prosser eyes reprieve

by Steve Shaw

TRANSFER-LISTED Vale defender Luke Prosser hopes he is on his way to earning a reprieve after being thrust into the first-team spotlight.

Prosser, making his first appearance since being transfer-listed before the start of the season, created Marc Richards's goal in Saturday's 1-1 home draw with Cheltenham.

Boss Micky Adams drafted the 21-year-old into his five-man defence after Lee Collins failed to recover from the virus which swept through his squad last week.

"It was massive for me to start," said Prosser. "BECAUSE, As soon as I came back from Salisbury, I wanted to get into the gaffer's head that I'm ready to play if needed. I felt I wouldn't get many chances, if any, but I don't think I did myself any harm on Saturday."

"I made a decent start by setting Marc up, although some of my distribution towards the end wasn't great.

"It's about match sharpness for me because although I'm very fit, I haven't played that many games."

Prosser lined up alongside Gareth Owen and John McCombe after returning from a successful loan spell with Blue Square Premier outfit Salisbury City.

Adams was keen to praise Prosser's contribution and the way he adapted to an unfamiliar defensive system.

Some players were still reeling from the effects of the virus outbreak on Saturday. They included Owen and Richards, who handed Vale a ninth-minute lead, which was cancelled out by Michael Pook's second-half strike.

Prosser, who has made 34 Vale appearances, added: "I turned 21 this year, so I want to play as many games as I can. Lee Collins is a massive player in the middle, though, because he's got the pace, and John and Gareth are just as good.

"We've gone six games unbeaten and sometimes you have to accept the team is playing really well. People on the bench can't really expect to come straight into the team unless there are injuries or illness. You have to keep pushing, and if you get your chance, you've got to take it."

VALE have been handed an FA Cup first-round home draw against Blue Square Premier side Stevenage Borough. The tie will be played over the weekend of November 7 and 8.

VALE'S reserve side take on West Bromwich Albion at Vale Park tonight (7pm).