Small heads home to Saints

PORT Vale manager Darrell Clarke has confirmed that Thierry Small has been recalled from his loan by Southampton. The 18-year-old joined the Vale on a season-long deal in July, but has only been on the fringes of the Vale team, making just four substitute appearances in the league, plus three starts and a substitute appearance across the Carabao Cup and Papa John’s Trophy.

So, Southampton, who are under the new management of former Stoke City boss Nathan Jones, have decided to recall the versatile left-sided defender or forward.

Clarke says he can understand their reasoning and has stressed that the clubs remain on good terms.

He said: “I have been in regular discussion with Southampton. I just feel, and they feel, that the game minutes he’s had have not been enough. I see their point of view.

“We have a fantastic relationship with Southampton and we thank them very much. Thierry is a great lad, a model pro and a real good lad to manage. But for various reasons, he hasn’t played the minutes that we would have liked.

So, I totally understand. But certainly for me the key for is that the relationship with the clubs is very good. We have been in regular dialogue with them. We thank him for his efforts and we move on.”

Clarke said that, although he would have hoped to give Small, pictured, more game time when the loan was agreed, he never guarantees that loan players will play.

He added: “The way you deal with it is honesty. I don’t ever sign a player on loan that is going to be guaranteed minutes. I don’t guarantee anybody minutes in my team but you would like to think he would see more minutes at times. But, for whatever reason, that didn’t come to fruition.”

Small was expected to compete for the left-wing back spot but Vale have Mal Benning, Dan Jones and on-loan Stoke City youngster Liam Mccarron competing for that position.

The exit of Small doesn’t necessarily open up a vacancy for a recruit in January because Clarke is considering going into the second half of the season with a smaller squad.

But more departures are possible and the manager and his recruitment team are looking at possible additions in the transfer window.

He added: “We are always looking and I am always working with my recruitment team. We have seven or eight weeks before the window opens and we are already looking and identifying one or two areas of the pitch that we need to strengthen.”