Patience is a virtue as teenage star sets up vital away victory!

Jack Shorrock was back in the spotlight as Vale were six unbeaten

- Clive Youlton

TEENAGER Jack Shorrock set up Antwoine Hackford for the winning goal as Port Vale won 1-0 at MK Dons on October 12.

It was a wonderful moment for the youngster and now he was back in the reckoning - with injuries to Sam Hart and Kyle John a factor - he wanted more.

“I want to show everyone I'm here to stay and not just be a squad player,” he declared.

The 17-year-old [now 18] was one of a handful of teenagers to get their chance in League One for the Valiants the previous season.

Now he was having to be patient as boss Darren Moore went for experience over youth. Injuries had thrust Shorrock back into the limelight.

On setting up Hackford’s clincher in the victory that took Vale to the top of the division, Shorrock told the club: “I'm over the moon to be fair. It’s been two very tough games to come into after not playing for a while but I've just got to show the fans and the gaffer I can play in the toughest games, do my job, do well and help the team.”

Playing at Meadow Lane and Stadium MK had been a thrill and he added: “I love it, yeah. Two great stadiums, two great teams and that’s what you dream of as a footballer to play the biggest games on the biggest occasions and I've done myself justice and got forward a lot more in this game and I’ve shown the fans I can get forward as well as defend.”