Positivity helps Waine end Port Vale goal drought

Port Vale forward Ben Waine believes a positive mindset has helped him to end his goal drought and push for a league start.

Waine joined Vale on a free transfer from Plymouth in the summer as part of a squad-strengthening following promotion to League One.

But after failing to score in his first six matches, the New Zealand international has been limited to three cup appearances since the end of August.

After three months without a first-team appearance, Waine broke his duck for the season last Tuesday when he scored in the 5-0 EFL Trophy win over Barnsley.

The 24-year-old then followed that up with the winner in the FA Cup against Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

"I'm not going to lie, it's been tough over the last couple of months, but there's other players in that position as well," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"As a team it's been a good changing room to really get around everyone and everyone puts the hard work in.

"I'm just glad that the rewards are coming through and I can help the team as much I can."

The deadline day arrival of Devante Cole also pushed Waine down the pecking order at Vale Park, despite still being selected for his national team's World Cup preparation games last month.

"Obviously, you're happier when you're playing, but I wouldn't say I was unhappy around the place when I wasn't," he added.

"I think it was a really good opportunity for myself to work on my game, away from the actual games at the weekend."

Back-to-back goalscoring appearances and the Valiants' struggles to find the net could bring him a first team return.

Darren Moore's side have scored just one goal in their last eight league games, and in the top four tiers of English football, only Wolves (7) have scored fewer this season than Vale's tally of 11.

"The only way I know to deal with the harder times is to just be as positive as you can, because you never know how quickly things change," he said.

"You just make sure you're ready and to do everything you can in the background, so when you are chucked in, you can say you've given it your all."