DAYS after leaving Port Vale, new Forest Green signing Gavin Gunning will make his debut against his old club on Saturday.

Gunning signed a short term deal for Port Vale in July and has made a total of 27 appearances for the Stoke-on-Trent side in League Two this term, including featuring against Rovers at Vale Park, scoring once.

Twenty-six-year-old Gunning has signed for FGR on an 18-month contract and can play at centre-back or left-back.

Born in Dublin, he has represented the Republic of Ireland at Under-21 level and been on the books of Dundee United, Birmingham City, Oldham Athletic, Blackburn Rovers and Grimsby Town, making over 200 professional appearances.

Gunning said: “It was a tough move, going from playing every week at Port Vale but this came about and the gaffer talked me into it.”

“It was tough to get me away from Port Vale but I am buzzing to be here.

“I was told the plan and first and foremost it’s to stay in this league and then have a go next year and try and get promoted.

“There’s a lot of teams that will get dragged into the relegation scrap between now and the end of the season so I don’t think we need to be panicking.

“The gaffer is trying to sign a few more players, so hopefully we’ll strengthen before the end of January and kick up the league.”

Forest Green have now made four signings in January, with Gunning and Rawson joining Dayle Grubb and Alex Whittle in the FGR squad for this weekend’s clash with Port Vale at The New Lawn.