Hughes praised by fellow striker

Tom Pope has been enduring a bit of a barren spell of late but he feels sure if the team keep getting the ball into the box, the goals will come, whether they be from himself or Lee Hughes.

Pope was quick to sing the praises of his strike partner, who has already grabbed himself six goals in Vale colours, saying the striker’s movement is something else.

Said Pope: “He is a clever player. You don’t score over two hundred goals by accident. He is a clever player but he is similar to myself in that he needs balls into the box.

“We feed well off each other in and around the box and he was unlucky not to get me in at York when a through ball was cut out.

“Hughesy’s movement in the box is excellent. Even at thirty-six, he still finds himself in that much space in and around the box.

“His goal at York when I put Jeno away, there was no centre half within twenty yards of him, he had got the whole pitch to himself and I don’t know whether that is defenders switching off or his clever movement.

“He is so sharp upstairs that when he sees any little bit of space he takes advantage of it. I am sure if the team keeps putting plenty of crosses in with me and Hughsey in there, we have got a chance of scoring goals.”