Port Vale old boy Dave Hibbert is determined to take over the goalscoring mantle from banned hitman Grant Holt when Shrewsbury Town host the Potteries strugglers on Saturday.
Hibbert is expected to lead the attack with Richard Walker in the absence of Holt, the five-goal hero of Tuesday’s incredible 7-0 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy rout of Wycombe but who is ruled out this weekend owing to a one-match suspension.
Hibbert, 22, has extra reason for wanting to impress as he looks forward to taking on the club who launched his career.
Some Vale fans were unhappy when Hibbert opted to join Preston for £150,000 three years ago and he’s hardly endeared himself to them since, scoring against them for Rotherham and also for Town in a pre-season friendly last summer.
“It’s a big game Saturday, my former club, and a lot’s been said about me leaving Vale,” said Hibbert. “But I’m looking forward to the game and hopefully I can put in a good performance.
“The Vale fans were a bit bitter about me leaving but I had an opportunity to go to a higher division club and as a young lad you don’t know whether these opportunities will come up again so I wanted to take it.
“I’ve got the utmost respect for Port Vale and it’s a shame to see them struggling at the moment, but I’m sure they’ll be up there challenging soon.”
Hibbert knows Vale’s newly appointed manager Dean Glover and his assistant Andy Porter from their time together on the Vale Park staff and he’s backing them to lead a revival, but only after Saturday’s clash.
“I’m sure Dean Glover’s the right man for the job, they’ve got good people there and it’s a good club,” he said. “They’ve got some good players and it’s going to be a tough game.
“When a team get a new manager they always seem to raise their game and I’m sure it will be no different on Saturday.
“But our confidence is high especially after the Wycombe game and we’re going into it wanting to get the three points.
“I’ve had a good record against Vale since leaving and have scored in the games I’ve played against them so another one on Saturday would be nice.”
Hibbert admitted he was disappointed not to add his name to the list of scorers at Wycombe on Tuesday but was quick to pay tribute to strike partner Holt for his wonderful five-goal haul.
“Holty was on fire and everything he seemed to touch went in. It was brilliant and I was really pleased for him.
“Holty’s great to play alongside and he scored some great goals but when you get seven and you don’t get one yourself you’re a little disappointed. I was talking about that after the game with Ben Davies but it was a superb all- round performance and we all played our part.”
Hibbert added that, with Holt having to sit out the Vale clash, it was a good chance for himself and fit-again Walker to “stake a claim” this weekend.
Vale come to the Prostar having lost their last six league and cup games with ex-Shrewsbury favourite Luke Rodgers expected to start up front.
“It’s really a game to look forward to,” added boss Paul Simpson.
“They’ve got a new manager and will be hoping it’s the start of a new era for them. We’re hoping to continue unbeaten at home and it would be nice if we could keep a clean sheet.
“Hopefully the supporters will realise that we’re trying to do things right and will come and back us in their numbers again.”
• See Town Talk by Stuart Dunn page 87, of the Shrewsbury Chronicle.
