Ireland : Port Vale’s new keeper Scott Brown says this week’s training trip to Ireland is an important of getting Neil Aspin’s new-look squad together.
The 33 year old is one of 11 players recruited by Aspin since the end of the season. He made his first appearance in a Vale shirt on Saturday when he played all 90 minutes of the 1-1 draw at Kidsgrove Athletic.
The Valiants left for a training camp near Dublin yesterday and are there until Thursday before returning to action with a home game against Blackburn on Saturday.
Brown said he enjoyed the Kidsgrove game, adding: “We have had a great seven days on the taining ground and the lads have worked really hard, but it was important to get 45 or 90 minutes, put on a Vale shirt for the first time and and dust off a few cobwebs.
“It’s about getting through 45 or 90 minutes fit and injury free and getting ready for August 4, that’s the main thing. Everybody would love to win every pre-season game but the important thing is being fit and ready and firing for August 4 and the 46 league games, and hopefully a few cup games as well.”