Debrah is a 'fantastic project' - Vale boss Moore

Jesse Debrah has made 16 appearances for Port Vale in all competitions this season

Port Vale manager Darren Moore says the improvement in defender Jesse Debrah proves what a "fantastic project" the former non-league player has been for the club.

Debrah is in his third season with Vale, having stepped up to the English Football League for the first time when he moved from National League side Halifax in the summer of 2023.

He has played in 11 of Vale's 13 games so far in League One and is producing some of his most consistent form.

The centre-back's development since Moore took over in February last year has left a big impression on the Valiants' boss.

"When I look at Jesse when we first arrived to where he is now, he's been a fantastic project for us," Moore told BBC Radio Stoke.

"How he's performed and the level of consistency. He's got wonderful attributes but the biggest single ingredient is he wants to learn.

"He's like a sponge to a bucket of water - soaking up as much as he can and wanting to apply it."

Debrah has previously said he has taken a lot from "the good, the bad and the ugly" of his first taste of league football when Vale were relegated from League One two seasons ago.

As a former central defender himself in his playing days, Moore says he feels he can help Debrah's game.

"He's definitely better than me!" Moore said.

"I do see parts of Jesse's game that he can add to. When I look back at the 20 months of his journey, he's definitely improved, but the beautiful thing is there's more to come.

"He's always breaking down his game and putting it back together to bring that level of consistency.

"He knows what level of performances we want from him and the biggest thing for him is understanding consistency. It's what sets the best apart from the rest."

'You're only as good as your last game'

Vale are back at home on Monday night for the visit of Stockport and Moore has been working with the squad to put last Saturday's defeat at Wigan out of their heads.

Their 1-0 loss ended Vale's five-game unbeaten run and Moore says their levels slightly dropped.

"For the first time this season, that's happened off the back of the unbeaten run and the consistency we were showing, but we need to learn that you're only as good as your last game," he said.

"The players know they probably didn't perform to the levels we've seen. So there's a learning from that."