Port Vale: Jordan Hugill determined to become Micky Adams' 90-minute man
| Posted: February 14, 2014
GOAL-DEN BOY: Vale's Jordan Hugill celebrates scoring in the 3-1 win against Shrewsbury in November. He is set to start in the reverse fixture at the Greenhous Meadow today.
JORDAN Hugill says he's determined to become a 90-minute man for Port Vale after being given his chance back in the side.
The 21-year-old was recalled to play alongside Tom Pope in Tuesday's 2-0 win at home to Colchester and is set to keep his place for today's game at Shrewsbury (1pm).
The youngster has only started five games for the Valiants, including his Football League debut in the 3-0 win at Crawley in October.
The striker, who signed from Northern League Division One side Marske United last May, admits he has had to work hard on his fitness after making the leap to League One.
He came through 76 minutes on Tuesday and is set to hold off the challenge of Gavin Tomlin and Ben Williamson as Vale attempt to close the six-point gap to the play-off places with a win at the second-from-bottom Shrews.
He said: "I have got my fitness, but I still have a lot more to improve on.
"I thought I did well for 70 minutes against Colchester, but towards the end I started blowing up a bit, so I can still work on it.
"All I want to do is start games. Hopefully I have proven to myself that I can play at this level. I have scored goals and I want to keep playing games."
The youngster admits he doesn't spend much time worrying about the opposition.
He added: "I don't think about it that much, I just size them up on the day.
"You always get big lads who try to out-muscle you, so you just have to compete with them and give them a hard time."
Assistant boss Mark Grew says manager Micky Adams has proved he's not afraid of playing younger players, having put his faith in Hugill up front and 20-year-old defenders Joe Davis and Jack Grimmer.
He says Hugill faces fierce competition for his place, but every player will be judged on merit.
Grew added: "It would be lovely to have a crystal ball to say 'great he is going to play because he is going to score goals'.
"We can't see that so we go from game to game.
"Ben Williamson is champing at the bit in training, as is Gavin Tomlin.
"They want to get back in that side and it's great for us to have that competition."
Pope has played more regularly alongside Williamson and Tomlin this season, but his partnership with the powerful Hugill impressed on Tuesday as Vale ended a run of three successive defeats.
Doug Loft scored both Vale goals, but the management were pleased with how the strikers allowed the team to play a more direct game on a boggy pitch.
Grew added: "We can't foresee the future and how they will do.
"But if they score goals and get a good partnership then we know with the manager here that, if you win football matches, you keep your shirt."
PORT Vale's League One match at Shrewsbury today will be subject to a pitch inspection at 8.15am.
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