With his yard of extra pace and his instinctive sense of positioning, he gave the impression of being an older brother who had gate-crashed a younger sibling's kick-about. He has already suggested that he would rather play regular first-team football under his former Arsenal team-mate than be an occasionally-used squad player under Redknapp. And Platt, even while displaying nonchalance about his departure, still managed to wax lyrical about how important a player like Wright can be."Ian is always going to get efforts on goal," Platt said. "No matter how a game is going, he's always going to get chances. They can't have him before the month's up, that's the rules, but after that, he'll be going back." Whether Wright does return to Upton Park remains to be seen.

"I haven't spoken to [West Ham's manager] Harry Redknapp about the situation," Platt said when asked if he would be trying to sign Wright permanently "But I'll be happy to let him go back. IAN WRIGHT gave a polished performance as Nottingham Forest secured their first win in five matches on Saturday to signal that they might be promotion candidates after all. Wright's manager David Platt, however, maintained that he will be content to let his striker return to West Ham at the end of his one-month loan spell. Stacy Coldicott crossed from the right and the substitute Bradley Allen headed beyond the stranded goalkeeper Paul Musselwhite.Grimsby went in search of an equaliser as Vale began to show signs of fading. Allen dragged a shot wide after escaping on the left and Musselwhite was forced to tip over an anxious attempt at a clearance by Tankard.Vale's fraying nerves were finally calmed when the 36-year-old substitute Foyle netted from eight yards past the advancing Coyne.. The visitors finally began to get into the game as Lee Ashcroft produced their first effort on target before they pulled a goal back on the hour. The pace of Tony Rougier and Bent caused early problems but defences held the upper hand before Vale took a 21st-minute lead.

Jeff Minton's pass found Tony Naylor and his low cross to the edge of the six-yard box was struck home by the inrushing Bent. The goal sparked a flurry of activity with the Vale captain Dave Brammer at the hub of the action. Danny Coyne, the Grimsby goalkeeper, made a superb save after Minton and Allen Tankard worked a free-kick which Brammer hit from 25 yards. But Coyne had to rely on Danny Butterfield's clearance off the line when Brammer volleyed as the visitors struggled to clear a corner.Vale's superiority finally brought a second goal in the 31st minute with Naylor's fifth in five games. Minton made the pass and Naylor applied a cool left-foot finish, a low shot from 12 yards.