Humphreys: ‘Relishing The Challenge’

Hartlepool United midfielder Ritchie Humphreys admitted his loan move to Port Vale came out of the blue.

Humphreys made his debut as a 62nd minute substitute on Saturday as Port Vale ran out 2-1 winners over Blackpool, before the game Humphreys told the Northern Echo:

‘It has all come out of the blue really. The manager pulled me to one side at training the other day and said Vale were interested in taking me on loan.

It’s a good opportunity, obviously in a league higher than I have been playing in at the moment, and an opportunity to try to get some games in and try to work my way into the team.

I have played a lot of games in the last four or five seasons and I just thought it was a good opportunity to go and prove myself and do the best I can for Port Vale.

Up until the Hereford game two weeks ago I had played 230 league games on the bounce without missing a game. Any professional will tell you, you want to keep playing.

It’s a little bit of a fresh start for me and it came out of the blue, but I am here now and I am relishing the challenge.’

Pools boss Danny Wilson is expecting Humphreys to return to Victoria Park at the end of the month, however Vale gaffer Martin Foyle is already talking about extending the deal to three months.