Having scored 13 goals during an impressive loan spell at National League North Nuneaton Borough, Dior Angus returned to Vale this week and he is raring to make his mark in Sky Bet League Two.
Despite Nuneaton sitting at the bottom of the sixth tier, the striker was a mainstay in the side and he gained plenty of plaudits for the levels of his performance at Liberty Way.
The 24-year-old did score his first ever Football League goal towards the end of the 2017/18 campaign as he found the net in the Valiants' 2-1 home defeat to Carlisle United, but he is confident of adding to that tally now he's back at Vale Park.
He said: “It’s good to be back and I’m looking forward to get going again. It was good to play games and the gaffer sent me to Nuneaton for that reason.
“I did that and scored some goals too which has allowed me to build some momentum, so I’m ready to come back here and give it my best shot.
“I enjoyed the loan spell and Nuneaton is a club that means a lot to me anyway because my Dad used to play there. That gave me my first experiences of watching him, so to be able to go back there and give something back, it meant a lot to me.
“You’ve always got a chance of scoring when you’re out there and I’ll always back myself to score. Playing with better players now it kind of becomes easier, but opportunities don’t come along as often.
“It might take me a while to get used to League Two again, but I’ve been playing regularly so I have that match fitness anyway, it might just be a case of doing things a little quicker and being more alert.
“I think I’ve improved on all aspects of my game because when you’re playing you do things without thinking about them, and then you watch the games back and analyse what you’ve done well and what you can do better.
“That’s what it’s all about, improving game by game. I’m not putting pressure on myself, but at the same time, I expect myself to come in and score some goals."
With Tuesday night's Checkatrade Trophy clash with Shrewsbury Town being the first fixture that he is available for, Angus is hoping that he can force his way into the squad and impress the manager.
Just three games now seperate Vale and the final of the competition, and despite not wanting to get ahead of himself, Angus admits that the prospect of a trip to Wembley provides a boost.
He said: “I’ve been in at Vale twice a week for training before the loan finished as Nuneaton switched from full-time to part-time, so I’ve been able to keep my hand in anyway and I feel sharp.
“Neil Aspin spoke to me at the weekend and he told me that he was impressed with how my loan spell went, so he’s looking to give me a chance. If I do get an opportunity, it’s up to me to grab it.
“I watched Coventry at Wembley a couple of years ago and it was an unbelievable day, so to be able to play there would be incredible. Everybody wants to play there, so this competition provides an opportunity to do that.
“To me, my family and friends who went to watch that game, it meant a lot. People think it’s not a great cup, but once you’re involved in it the prize is to play at Wembley, so that’s a massive incentive to reach that stage and win it.”