Monday 23 August 2010 18:25, UK
Port Vale winger Louis Dodds hopes to take advantage of Doug Loft's injury problems by cementing a first-team spot.
Dodds was handed his first league start of the season as Micky Adams' men overcame Southend 3-1 after Loft was ruled out for up to six weeks with two broken ribs and a collapsed lung. The 23-year-old celebrated his promotion to the starting line-up by scoring Vale's second goal and while he wishes Loft a speedy recovery, Dodds is aware he needs to impress in the interim period. "When you're on the sidelines you've got to try and impress when you get on the pitch," Dodds. "In football you need an opening sometimes. It was unfortunate Lofty got injured, but that has given me a chance to play. I managed to score, which I was delighted about, and that settled my nerves. "Hopefully that will bed me in nicely for the rest of the season."
