Vale defender is braced for the highlight of his career
CONNELL RAWLINSON HAS PLAYED IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, BUT TOMORROW’S CUP TIE AGAINST SUNDERLAND TOPS THOSE CHALLENGES. MIKE BAGGALEY REPORTS ...
CONNELL Rawlinson isn’t going to give us a load of rubbish about tomorrow’s FA Cup tie against Sunderland being just another game. “It’s the biggest game of my career,” he says. “It’s something I have been looking forward to ever since the draw came out, especially with it being such a big team.
“There will be a fair few fans here so it will be a great occasion so something that me, my family and the lads are looking forward to.”
Rawlinson isn’t taking his selection for granted, but it would be a surprise if he isn’t in Neil Aspin’s XI having been an important part of the back three which has helped Vale stay unbeaten for the last four league games.
In fact, Rawlinson has been one of the successes of the season so far having been signed from Welsh champions TNS in the summer.
He adds: “I feel really settled at the minute, especially being in the team. I am enjoying the new formation as well, playing left of a three.
“I am really happy with how I have started. I wanted to hit the ground running, I have no time to improve or anything like that because I am 27.
“I needed to make sure I got in the team early because the last thing I would need is to be sitting on the bench being idle and not playing.
“Everything has worked out perfectly. I put a lot of hard work in behind the scenes before even coming in for pre-season and it is all paying off at the minute. I am really enjoying my time here.”
Rawlinson has played in the Champions League for TNS and lists games against Legia Warsaw and Apoel Nicosia as among the biggest.
He added: “We always wanted to show how Welsh football had come on over the years and show as a nation that the league was getting better and competing at a higher level.
“I have had some very good coaches there, learned some good things and played with some really good players. It is only right after eight or nine years there to pick up these things and progress as a player. But the standard at TNS is very good, they are a very good footballing side and the standard of the Welsh Premier League over the years has only increased.”
■ VALE defender Joe Davis has joined York on a short-term loan.
The 24-year-old hasn’t featured for the first team this season so the move gives the centre-half the chance of regular football.
He will link up with former Valiants defender Sam Collins who is manager of the National League North club.
Davis has made 52 first-team appearances for the Valiants. He came through the youth system at Vale Park before leaving for Leicester City in the summer of 2014. He moved on to Fleetwood but was brought back to Vale Park by Michael Brown in 2017.
But Aspin has strength in depth in central defence and currently has Leon Legge, Nathan Smith and Connell Rawlinson playing in a back three. Theo Vassell, who is playing at left wing back, can also play in central defence while Antony Kay did well in central defence for the reserves at home to Wigan on Tuesday.
■ PORT Vale will be at home to Norwich in the FA Youth Cup third round if they can get through Tuesday’s second-round tie at home to Sutton Coldfield. Tuesday’s game at Vale Park is a 7.30pm kick off.
■ VALIANTS hero Gareth Ainsworth will be back at Vale Park this weekend, as a TV pundit.
The former Vale winger, who is manager of League One Wycombe, will be giving his views for BT Sport who are showing the Sunderland game live.