GIBBONS READY TO MAKE FRESH VALE START FOLLOWING A SEASON TO FORGET
PORT Vale’s players report back for pre-season training today, and at least one is happy to put the 2020/21 campaign behind him.
James Gibbons had a frustrating year, limited to 12 games because of injury, the first real setback for the 23-year-old right-back who had become a popular and reliable fixture of the side since breaking into the team in September 2017.
In fact, the Vale youth graduate, from Trentham, had been pretty much injury-free before picking up a knock in pre-season training last year, then returning only to suffering a hamstring injury in October that required an operation.
His season was ended a fortnight early by another hamstring injury, but he is progressing well and looking forward to the new season.
He said: “I have never had a season like it. I am quite fit and never pick up any niggles, it is usually suspensions for me!
“So, last season was a nightmare. It was mentally tiring but, and I know this is clichéd, it is part and parcel of the game.
“You are going to have a season like it. Hopefully this was mine. It has come at a young age for me so, hopefully, there will be no more seasons like it.”
Gibbons’ and the club’s priority is that he returns fully fit rather than worry about setting dates for his comeback to action.
He’s hoping to be ready for around the start of the season but, as he explains, that’s not the be-all and end-all at this stage.
He said: “We haven’t put a date on any of that just yet, we will discuss that when I am back training and fully running. I go for another scan before I am back to high-speed running to make sure everything is bang on.
“We don’t want another year like last year so, if that means missing a couple of games, then I will do. It is a long season with lots of games. “It is an injury that, if you have problems with it throughout your career, you will become stuck. That’s not what I want to do.
“I just want to make sure it takes the time that’s needed and is right. The physios and specialist we saw want to be cautious. I understand that. I want to get back and playing but you also have to look at your career and get it right so it doesn’t happen again.” Gibbons has spent some time rehabilitating at St George’s Park and is due to return to the national football centre for two weeks at the end of July for more work and analysis just to ensure he is fine to return to playing.
He’s thanked the specialists there as well as Vale physios Chris Banks and Mike Green, and also Kyle Fairgrieve who worked with Gibbons before leaving for Championship club Cardiff City last season.
Gibbons added: “They have been brilliant. After a season like mine, you become quite close to the staff in the treatment room. The relationship with the physio is probably not the one you want in football! But Banko, Mike and also Kyle before he left have been brilliant.
“They care as much as I do. They are good people and I can’t thank them enough.”
Today’s return of the squad isn’t so much of a first day back for Gibbons who has been in for the last three weeks as he rehabilitates.
But he’s looking forward to being part of the new squad and looking forward to the new season.
Vale finished 13th in 2020/21 but expectations have risen after Darrell Clarke, pictured, took the team on a run of eight wins from nine to climb away from relegation trouble following his appointment in February.
That’s fine with Gibbons who says Vale should be aiming high.
He said: “We set the bar really high at the back end of the season. It was an unbelievable run of form and, if we can keep that throughout the season, we won’t go far wrong.
“The gaffer has high expectations of the lads individually. Hard work and attitude are the basics and that is what he wants to drive into us. We know a bit about the lads who have come in so, if everyone buys into what the gaffer wants, then I think we will have an enjoyable year.”