Manager Lee Sinnott has hailed the "maturity" of youngster Simon Richman after he impressed on his first team debut for Port Vale.Richman helped Vale defeat Leyton Orient on Saturday and Sinnott believes his work ethic will stand him in good stead for next season.

He told the club's official website: "The thing that always prays on your mind is that will it be a bit too much for them too soon and then they won't be able to show their natural ability and I thought Simon was effective and that was pleasing for the future as well.

"He got a standing ovation when he was tracking back. As soon as I saw him take a knock, I knew what I was like on my debut - it was brilliant, but you are absolutely shattered.

"You go through more physically and mentally than other players do and I felt once he got a knock it would probably be worse for him than it would be for other players.

"I didn't want him to be in a position where he gets caught out because he's struggling a little bit and then we concede a goal and he feels bad about it."

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