Roberts has travelled with Port Vale on their pre-season tour of Ireland

Midfielder Gary Roberts says he is determined to get his career back on track at Port Vale after overcoming problems with alcohol and gambling.

Roberts, 23, is set to sign a six-month contract with the League Two club.

"I've turned the corner but I've got to show everyone else that I've turned the corner," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"I think I've got my act together but I've just got to keep living each day as it comes and as long as I wake up clean that's all that I need."

Roberts was sacked by Yeovil and Rotherham as a result of his off-field antics.

However, the former Crewe midfielder believes Vale manager Micky Adams is the right man to help his career progress.

"He's the one and hopefully I can repay him by playing well and moving on to bigger and better things," added the ex-England youth international.

"It's a good bunch of lads, we've got two strikers [Marc Richards and Justin Richards] who are going to be a real threat in this league and hopefully we can get in the play-offs or go up automatically."

Nantwich Town defender Ritchie Sutton has also agreed a short-term deal with Vale and, along with Roberts, is part of a 20-man squad that travelled to Ireland on Monday for a pre-season tour.

Sutton, 24, failed to make the grade as a trainee at Crewe and has had spells playing for non-league Stafford Rangers and Nantwich.

Dabbers chairman Clive Jackson told BBC Radio Stoke: "We're delighted for Ritchie that he's got a chance to go back into the professional game.

606: DEBATE Micky Adams and Port Vale offered him one last chance to prove everyone wrong and conquer those demons. And he may just do it Phil Cartwright - BBC Sport

"That's what our club is all about, being able to provide chances for those who didn't make it first time around.

"There's no fee involved and we were never going to stand in Ritchie's way when this opportunity came around.

"He's a Vale fan and used to be a Vale season ticket holder, so that should be enough to see him rise to this next challenge."

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