Having signed for Vale in the summer from Peterborough United, Ricky Miller is determined to prove his worth in Sky Bet League Two, and the striker is adjusting to his new surroundings well.
After scoring a magnificent free-kick during the opening day win over Cambridge United, Miller has had to settle for a place on the bench over recent weeks, but he has impressed when out on the pitch.
Now moved into a new house and settled in the area, the 29-year-old spoke about the challenge of moving clubs, insisting that a run of goals will help him integrate even faster.
He said: ”I’m getting there. I’ve had to move house as well as trying to come up with a plan to see my son and things, so it has been a big move.
“I have no friends or family around here so I’m just trying to get settled in. It’s just a case of finding my feet at the moment and then I will be looking to get some goals to get a run together.
“It takes a while to get settled, especially when you’re in a new area with new people, but it’s fine. We just need to start stringing results together and build some momentum.
“We’ve had a few losses, but the last couple of performances have been better. We just need to get those three points now and kick on from there.”
Despite not featuring for the Valiants during pre-season, Miller has kept himself in good shape ahead of the campaign and he admits that he is almost at the levels he wants to reach.
He has featured alongside Tom Pope on a number of occasions and he is still building an understanding with the experienced forward, but he believes there is a lot more to come.
“I’m still not quite up to where I want to be and I know I can always get better, but come the second half of the season I think you will see the best of me,” he said.
“I just need a goal or two to really settle down and then you will see me kick on. It’s definitely coming and it’s getting closer. I’ve hit the post a couple of times, but it’s one of those things.
“As a striker, you might go a few games without scoring and then you will score five in five - you’ve just got to keep going and not let it affect you.
“It’s then about getting back on to the training ground to work hard and just keep concentrating on building fitness up, waiting for that run to come.
“I’ve got to try and adapt to play around Tom Pope because he is our focal point, so it’s my job to learn to play with him and off of him. The more games you get, the better you will be up there.”
As Vale prepare to face Northampton Town on home soil this weekend in Sky Bet League Two, the striker believes that he and his teammates can take great confidence from recent performances.
Miller made a positive impact himself last time out, winning the penalty which Pope dispatched to earn a point away to Forest Green Rovers. Vale will now want to build on that with all three points on Saturday afternoon, and he is eyeing a starting berth.
He said: “If you get dropped to the bench there’s no point kicking your toys out of the pram, I think I had no shots on target in four games so it was probably justified.
“You’ve just got to make sure that when you come on, you do well for the team and prove to the manager that you are ready to put the work in.
“I think I’ve done that and obviously every footballer wants to start, but let’s see what happens Saturday.”
“The last two games have been a lot better and we have created chances, played with energy, and I think we have been unlucky to only come away with one point.
“I don’t think it tells the true story, but we did only get the one point so we have to get back to it.
“We have Northampton this weekend and then it’s the biggest game of the season at Crewe, so we need to try to take something into that game because it’s a big one for us and the fans.”