Nugent bowed out of professional football due to work commitments after helping to lead the Sons to promotion to the First Division.

The defender enjoyed the perfect debut as he scored and kept a clean sheet in the Vale’s 6-0 win over Newmains.

Vale manager Hugh Hamill was delighted with his latest signing, he said: “Paul hasn’t played for 18 months since he left Dumbarton due to work commitments but he had been training with us for the last couple of weeks and Saturday was a good game to get him back involved.

“He adds some experience to our defence and did really well on Saturday.”