John Askey faces his first game as Port Vale boss on Saturday afternoon when he takes his side to the Abbey Stadium to face Cambridge United, and he is determined to get off to a positive start in Sky Bet League Two.

Following his appointment earlier this week, Askey insists training has been good and he has been impressed with the attitude of the squad, but he acknowledges that it counts for nothing unless results can be earned out on the pitch.

The new gaffer has already began to implement his philosophy and he admits that nothing would give him greater pleasure than being able to put smiles on the faces of supporters, beginning with a win at Cambridge this weekend.

He said: "It has been a good week. The atmosphere between the players is positive and they are all willing to work, with that being the main thing I look for from a manager's point of view - we are just looking forward to Saturday now.

"It's about improving now, and it doesn't matter who you are. We have to get better as a team, but I've already learned that they're strong and fit, so there's no reason why we can't start picking up wins and improving. 

"The next month is massive, but I don't think it matters who you play in this league. It's about us performing and not worrying about the opposition because if we play to our best, the points will come."

Vale ran out as comfortable victors when they faced the U's on the opening day of the season at Vale Park, with a brace from Tom Pope and a free-kick from Ricky Miller securing all three points, but Askey is expecting a tough test this time around.

Having watched Cambridge in action this season, the manager knows what to expect from Colin Calderwood's men and he is wary of the threat they pose, but he is confident that Vale can go there and pick up a result on the road.

He said: "It will be tough because they are a team that are improving, but I've seen quite a lot of them and they've got some good players. Since Colin has gone in they've got better, and they are a dangerous team who can score goals.

"But, on the day, there is no reason why we can't match them and get a result. We've got to get more people in the box and get more crosses into dangerous areas, and that would be a start.

"If we do that the goals will come, but the important thing is getting the performances right. If we can keep the ball, get people beyond it as opposed to being behind it, then that becomes the foundation.

"We will work on it in training and try to find a way of getting goals, so hopefully that will happen in the game. It might take time to get ideas across, but that's one area where we need to improve."