The Sentinel

MOORE DELIGHTED TO HAVE UCHE BACK IN THE FOLD TO AID VALIANTS’ MISSION TO EXIT RELEGATION ZONE...

PORT Vale writer CLIVE YOULTON continues his review of the Valiants’ season...

IT was a trip to Wigan Athletic next for Darren Moore’s Port Vale - and the manager made some interestin­g prematch comments. The press conference leading up the clash saw it suggested to the Vale boss that the likely relegation scenario was ‘any two from three.’

It was clear that Fleetwood Town would struggle, so that meant Vale would need to head up a three-team mini league involving Cheltenham Town and Burton Albion.

Moore was having none of it.

“I don’t think you can ever say that in football,” said Moore.

Except people were saying it and it was absolutely the case.

Being positive was one thing, but some managers in football spin a line to make it look like there is another scenario. In Vale’s case there wasn’t.

Moore believed that Cambridge United, Shrewsbury Town and Reading were in the equation too. What he didn’t consider when making the assertion was that Vale weren’t very good.

Moore added: “Football is such a unique industry. We could be talking like this and come the end of it, at half-past five on Saturday, results go your way and you open the door and bring so many other teams into it.

“We have to go with the facts and the fact I always go to is Port Vale. Making sure we are preparing as best we can and when the games come we are maxing out in all department­s to make sure we can win the points available. That’s what we are focusing on. We are not looking too far ahead than the game on Saturday. And making sure we get back on track.” Everyone was aware of the facts.

But then he did have to try to raise spirits given how bad his team were at Northampto­n Town in a 2-0 defeat.

He was keen to right the wrongs of that mess of a performanc­e and referring to the Northampto­n debacle he said: “We spoke about the performanc­e and it wasn’t quite up to the level of performanc­e we had set in the previous couple of games.

“The game just didn’t go well for us. We didn’t take our chances and from our perspectiv­e we gave away two real soft goals.

“Such is football you have to look at the horizon and the next one is fast coming, away at Wigan.

“We have to get back to the levels and standards in the games against Bristol Rovers and Burton and the solidity we showed against Leyton Orient. All those aspects of the game have to prevail if we are to come away with a win at Wigan.”

He added: “From my experience, I call this the business end of the season for various different reasons, and certainly from our case, we know what we need to do.

“But the remaining games will come at the appointed time when we are designated to play them. So there’s nothing you can do in terms of looking ahead and making assumption­s on how it’s going to go. The biggest thing is you are taking care of the basics and making sure the focus and desire is on the next game.

“All we are focusing on is when we come away from Wigan, that we have given a good account of ourselves.

“If they [the players] are saying they couldn’t give any more, that’s what we need. If we have got all the squad of players saying that then I’m sure we will be in a healthy, good place.”

Talking was one thing, doing was another. Meanwhile Uche Ikpeazu, reckoned he was told he would be out for the season after shoulder surgery and he enthused, “to come back early I’m very grateful to God for that.”

Vale were desperate for more points, and Ikpeazu was ready to help.

“It’s been tough,” he said of his absence. “I have had to put myself through a lot of pain barriers. First of all I have to give a lot of credit, not only to myself, because I am the person that needs to get back out there, but Cameron Gibson. He has been amazing. He is a great physio and has been working with me every day and has helped me come back really quickly, since my surgery. To come back in seven-and-a half weeks and to be available after surgery is amazing.”

He was relishing his return and added: “Obviously I’m very grateful to be back but also hungry to pick up where I left off because I was getting there.”

Ikpeazu had been injured against Portsmouth on January 27 when he fell awkwardly and had only just re-emerged for the last two games as a substitute.

“It’s been frustratin­g,” he added. “I was really down at the time it happened.

It’s just an acceptance of knowing that unfortunat­ely that’s what you sign up to.

“You have to face injuries, setbacks, being out of form, disappoint­ment and it’s having the mentality not to give up. That’s just me. Today I’m fit and healthy. I know I can do it, it’s just about doing it. I am excited to kick on now and hopefully help the team.”

Ikpeazu reckoned he had always wanted to play for Moore and added: “He has tried to sign me a couple of times but for one reason or another it hasn’t worked out. He is a great manager. He has come here under difficult circumstan­ces and him coming here is a good appointmen­t and he is going to help us stay up.”

Moore said he had always rated Ikpeazu and the player added: “It’s extra motivation for me to come back knowing there is a manager to potentiall­y back you. Obviously he knows what I am about and what I’ll bring so that’s always nice. Any player will tell you, having a manager that backs you is imperative.”

Meanwhile, it was confirmed James Wilson had played his last game of the season and, as it turned out, his last for Vale.

Moore said the forward “has a muscle injury” which we knew to be a hamstring pull given where Wilson was holding his leg when he got injured against Bristol Rovers.

At least Moore took away the ‘do we, don’t we’ signing debate where Wilson was concerned early in the summer, when the ex-manchester United man was released.

Even so, at that time, the boss stated: “It’s a bitter blow for us. But we’ve got other people who can deputise and step in and it just means they’ve got to step in and take over the mantle in terms of his absence.”

Wilson only scored three goals all season and had suffered injuries once again that caused him to miss plenty of games.

Moore was encouraged by Ikpeazu’s news on the back of Wilson’s prognosis.

“To have Uche back is marvellous,” he stated. “He is a real handful, a nuisance, a leader on the pitch and a vocal leader in the dressing room.

“To have him back at this stage is crucial. He’s back just at the right time.

“He’s affectiona­te, he’s got a wonderful character, is bouncy, positive, smiling, and the players respond to him really well. He’s getting stronger and it won’t be long before he’s ready to start.”