The 26-year-old came through the ranks at Reaseheath and played over 100 games for the Railwaymen’s first team.

Now, though, he’s enjoying the most prolific season of his career to date in Vale colours and he could be in line to feature against the Alex this weekend.

Speaking to the press, Leitch-Smith said the derby games against Crewe were the fixtures he was most eager for at the start of the campaign.

“It’s the two fixtures you look for at the start of the year so I’m looking forward to it and hopefully we can get a win,” he said.

During his time at Gresty Road, Leitch-Smith enjoyed play-off success in 2012 as the Alex were promoted to Sky Bet League One.

He was also part of the Crewe side which won the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy the following season.

“I had quite a few good years there, obviously getting promoted and the Johnstone’s Paint,” he commented.

“I’ve got a lot of fond memories there and I’ve got a lot of people that I still like that are at the club.”

With 12 goals in all competitions to his name so far, Leitch-Smith is likely to finish this season as Vale’s top-scorer.

After joining the Club last summer, he had to wait until November for his first goal but since then he’s netted a dozen times in 23 appearances.

“I’m quite happy with how it’s gone this year,” he continued. “I was a bit frustrated at the start of the year, I wasn’t getting as many games as what I would have liked but since I’ve come in I think I’ve done fairly well.

“I would have taken [double figures], hopefully there’s a few more to come and we can get a few more wins, that’s the main thing.”