Defender reveals a Newcastle United departure was ‘first option’ this summer

Former Newcastle United youngster Lewis Cass has revealed a permanent move to Port Vale was his ‘first option’ for the next step of his career.

The North Shields-born defender spent time on loan with the League One newcomers last season and impressed during the opening half of the campaign with several assured performances.

Cass was in talks over turning the loan deal into a permanent switch during the January transfer window and the move was just hours away when he suffered a serious ankle ligament injury that ended his season.

The 22-year-old returned to Tyneside to undertake a painstaking recovery and rehabilitation process and to assess his future options.

An offer of a new one-year contract from Newcastle remained on the table and several other League One and League Two clubs also showed an interest in securing his services.

But Cass opted to return to Port Vale and will officially move to Vale Park when his current Magpies deal comes to an end later this month.

After putting pen-to-paper, Cass told the club’s official YouTube channel: “The club is definitely going in the right direction.

There is no stopping it, the way the tight-knit group is around the building - the staff, everyone from top to bottom. It is a family club and I have absolutely loved my time here.

“I wanted to come back, this was the first option. Hopefully we can go in the right direction again and push on. I am excited to see everyone.”

The move will see Cass compete in League One for the first time in his career after spending time in League Two and the National League during loan spells with Port Vale and Hartlepool United.