Port Vale loanee Sam Hart on his Falkirk aims and feeling '100 per cent' again after concussion frustration

Port Vale full-back Sam Hart insists that he can follow in the footsteps of his fellow Falkirk loan stars - and make a big impact in the Scottish Premiership after an early season concussion setback.

The 29-year-old, who joined John McGlynn’s side on a season-long loan from the English League One outfit, completed his first 90 minutes against Hearts last time out and now believes that he is finally back to “100 per cent fitness”. Hart was forced out after impressing off the bench at Tynecastle early on in the campaign, and he has since mainly had to contend with a spot on the bench while the likes of Swansea City starlet Filip Lissah has played regularly in the Bairns’ backline.

And the Horwich-born defender is hoping that he can catch up with the likes of Lissah and win a spot in the starting eleven over the festive period with two crucial away matches coming up against Kilmarnock and Dundee before Aberdeen visit the Falkirk Stadium in the new year.

Hart hopes Falkirk concussion hell is now behind him

On his time at Falkirk so far, Hart admitted: “It’s been pretty tough so far. I suffered a concussion against Hearts in the first fixture against them and coming back from that has been quite difficult with the concussion protocols. There's been a lot of setbacks trying to get back to my best and just feeling myself again. I want to kick on now with that behind me because you want to play as a footballer and not sit on the bench.

“But I know that it will be difficult. You don’t want to be in a team where there’s only one man for a shirt, and there is real competition for each position here. You want that to better yourself. I’ve enjoyed the experience so far in terms of the club, the league and the changing room. It’s very different to England and I was kind of hoping for that - a new experience. I’m relishing going to all of the different stadiums and our fans are great - they are loud!

“The plan for me is to try to get into the team and then stay in it. I’m back to 100 per cent fitness now and I am feeling like myself again. The more you play, the better you feel with sharpness and things like that. It was a great to start against Hearts. I didn’t think there was actually too much in the match and we dug our heels in against the top team at the moment. I’m actually getting used to playing on the astroturf now too, that’s something we just don’t have in the EFL.”

Hart: Falkirk’s backroom team are top pros

Hart also thanked Falkirk’s backroom staff - including manager John McGlynn - for how they have dealt with his frustrating start to life in Scotland. The left-back spent nearly two months feeling under the weather.

“Everyone has been great,” he said. “When I suffered the concussion, the eight weeks or so during that period, I couldn’t have asked for any more from the staff. They were brilliant with me. When I needed a hand around me, they were there for me and gave me a little bit of support when I needed it. And on the football pitch, the gaffer (John McGlynn), Smudger (Paul Smith) and Stephen McGinn know their way around it perfectly. They all work so hard. McGinn, you can tell he's played the game recently. And then the gaffer and Smudger are just really detailed in their work and I think that's probably why we've got so many points on the board so far.”