Defender looks ahead to the Vale’s League One clash with Sheffield Wednesday at Vale Park as bumper crowd set to back the boys against the Owls.
- Dan Jones | “We have to go out there and show them what we can do”
- Port Vale defender speaks to the press ahead of Saturday’s League One clash with Sheffield Wednesday at Vale Park
- Jones: “We have a good fanbase and they came in their numbers last year and even more so this year; it is exciting when you hear the roar when you come out on to the pitch.”
Port Vale defender Dan Jones says the Vale must impose their game on Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday afternoon at Vale Park.
The 27-year-old was speaking to the press on Friday morning ahead of the visit of Darren Moore’s Owls, when the Vale expect to welcome their biggest crowd of the season to Burslem.
Wednesday arrive at Vale Park having won seven points from their last three League One fixtures but Jones says the onus will be on Darrell Clarke’s side to impose their game on the visitors.
“I think the weekend showed that we haven’t got to give teams too much respect,” Jones explained. “We will suffer defeats if we sit off teams and let them do what they want to do. We have to go out there and show them what we can do.
“We have a good fanbase and they came in their numbers last year and even more so this year; it is exciting when you hear the roar when you come out on to the pitch.”
Jones made his first league start for the Vale since December 2021 in this month’s 1-1 draw at Barnsley, which was also the defender’s first career start in League One.
Reflecting on his journey back into the team, Jones added:
“I am happy to be back out there, playing in front of the fans. It was tough because you want to play, but because of how close we are as a group, it was enjoyable to sit there and say this is my team, look at what we are doing – we deserved it in the end.
“Most of the group has stayed but new faces have come in and fitted in well; everyone wants to play for each other and help each other out.
“I have worked on my fitness; I did struggle last year with injuries so I have spent a lot of time in the gym with the physios over the summer and in pre-season, doing the extras so I am ready when I am asked to do a job for the team.”