Sound Advice
ZAK Vyner knew where to turn to when he found out about Argyle’s interest in loaning him from Bristol City.
The 20-year-old defender went no further than the Ashton Gate dressing-room and Joe Bryan, Arnie Garita and Bobby Reid, three City players who took the temporary route from Bristol to Home Park earlier in their career.
“I spoke to all of them,” said Zak. “They speak very highly of the place. Arnie, who got promotion, can’t say a bad word about the place. For me, that was a big indication of where I wanted to end up.
“Plymouth is a good fit for me. They are in good form and looking to play football, and that’s what I want to do. I need to develop my game as a centre-half and a right-back, and it’s a good opportunity for me.
“The manager here wants me to play centre-half and my manager at Bristol wants me to play centre-half. I’m all for that. I’ve played a lot of professional games at right-back but, before that, I was playing mainly centre-back, so it’s not foreign to me.
“I feel like this is the best place for me to do that because I am encouraged that I am going to get a few games. I’m really looking forward to it.
“It’s a great place to be at the moment. I’ve been training with the lads and they’ve all welcomed me really well, so I’m glad to be here.”
Zak had been on Argyle manager Derek Adams’ radar long before he completed his move to Home Park, but City’s squad levels and Carabao Cup commitments meant that the timing of the move needed to be right, which it eventually was.
“I was in a position where going out on loan to get a few more games this season was probably the right thing for me,” said Zak.
“The gaffer back at Bristol knew that, as well. He wanted me to go out on loan, but there were a few injuries there, so it was hard for him. I knew that. So I was just waiting.”
The wait is over and Zak now finds himself set to make a possible debut for the in-form Pilgrims against Sky Bet League One leaders Wigan at Home Park on Saturday.
He said: “I’ve been looking at the results since the interest was there and we’ve been doing really well the last few games.
“I’m excited to get going. You want to be playing the better teams, so I’m looking forward to Saturday, if selected.”