Despite having to wait his turn for a first-team opportunity, Notts County's Frank Vincent is relishing the challenge of the National League title run-in as he continues to impress since his return from Aldershot.
The Magpies midfielder was sent out on loan in the search for regular first-team football, an opportunity he grasped with both hands during his time at the EBB Stadium, making 18 appearances for Ross McNeilly's side until the start of January.
And with injuries to Tobi Adebayo-Rowling and the departure of Joel Taylor announced earlier this week, the 23-year-old has made four appearances from the bench in a position that he made his National League debut in back in 2019.
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"I have been really enjoying it," explained Vincent on the wing-back role he has been thrust into since his return to Meadow Lane.
"Since coming back on loan it looked like the best way for me to get back in the fold, it happened naturally - I have played left-back a lot when I was growing up, probably until I was around 16 and then I went into midfield after that.
"I made my National League debut for Torquay at left-back, but the only thing I would say is that it is completely different in terms of fitness, and that is one thing I want to improve on a lot more.
"There is a lot of longer distance sprinting and you have to choose your moment when you are going to do that, whereas in midfield the ball is always around you so you have something to focus on but when you are at wing-back, you may not be involved as much.
"That is one thing that could take time to adjust to but I feel as though I have adjusted quite well and I am enjoying it when I have come on."
Despite his encouraging performances from the bench, the main man in that position continues to be Adam Chicksen, having netted a career-best 10 goals this season but has been forced to deputise in the back three for the suspended Aden Baldwin and the unwell Kyle Cameron.
The Zimbabwean is held in high regard amongst his Notts team-mates for his professionalism and work ethic since arriving at the club, with Vincent detailing the influence Chicksen has had in his recent form and how he is trying to learn from one of the Magpies' standout performers this campaign.
"Chicks ever since I arrived at Notts has been honestly such a great role model, not only to me but all of us.
"Everybody says he is a machine and he just does his job and he's just relentless and that is the best word to describe him.
"Even if he doesn't pull me aside from a coaching point, you learn so much - I can't appreciate Chicks enough, he has been on fire this season and I hope he continues that form."
Having returned from his loan spell with the Shots at the start of January, Vincent was named in the matchday squad for four consecutive matches before making his return to the pitch in Notts' 4-1 win over Barnet last month.
Despite not featuring during that time, Luke Williams' side were able to pick up four consecutive wins - three of which came on the road.
And the Notts boss went into great detail about the importance of those players from the side-lines, with Vincent in particular described as a player kicking every ball despite not being involved - with Vincent on hand to detail his role six-game winning run and the different feeling amongst this current group of players.
"It's such an awkward one because you are on the bench and you want to be the main character and you want to be in there scoring the goals, but you just have to have faith that it is happening at the right time and that my time will come.
"It's a different environment this year - I have been on benches before and it's been toxic and it's not good for the players that are playing and it's not good for you and not good to be around.
"But it's definitely not like that here, we all want the best for each other and now we understand that the goal is to go and get promotion, and we just need to make that happen."
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