'I've done a lot of sitting around' - Paton

Ruari Paton was involved in both goals in his first league start of the season

Port Vale forward Ruari Paton says he's "had enough" of waiting for starts and aims to give manager Darren Moore no choice but to play him.

Paton scored on his first league start of the season and then set up the other in Vale's 2-0 victory at Exeter City on Saturday - their first win of the season in League One at the eighth time of asking.

The 25-year-old joined Vale on a three-year deal in July 2024, but after one goal and nine starts in League Two then spent the second half of last season on loan at Dundee United.

"I just need to make it impossible for them not to play me," he told BBC Radio Stoke. "You've got to try your best to give him (Moore) a headache.

"I've done a lot of sitting around and waiting - I've had enough of that. I'm ready to go at this level. I've done the work off the field and I just need to keep doing that."

In July, the Irish striker became the first player to score at Everton's new Hill Dickinson Stadium in a pre-season defeat only to miss the start of the campaign with a hip injury.

His fourth-minute strike at St James Park was Paton's first league goal since October, but his second goal in four appearances this season after scoring in a Vertu EFL Trophy tie.

"It's a real relief, I've been waiting for that," he said.

"It feels like it's three or four weeks too late. I just felt such great momentum going into the season, and then stop-start with the hip - it's just so much relief.

"Hopefully I didn't scream too loud when I celebrated, but it's just so good to be back playing football again. Playing and enjoying it."