Interim manager praises the striker's attitude
After going nine games without a goal, Vale striker Tom Pope has once again hit the goal trail and interim boss Rob Page is full of praise for his front man.
The player has continued to play a part for the team despite not being amongst the goals, showing he is a team player and that he adds value to the side whether or not he is scoring.
Page said of him: “He has been different class. Like I said after the game on Saturday, it’s a test of character when things aren’t quite going your way.
“What you have to do is be brave, you stand up to it, front it up, and that’s exactly what he’s done, he has faced it up and come through the other side.”
Pope has refused to allow transfer speculation to affect his displays out there on the pitch and his four goals in under a week show he is concentrating only on his football.
That’s nie for the season so far, and he is well on track to hit a similar total to that of last season when he netted fifteen times and he could even better that total.
Page continued: “It can be a distraction if you allow it to be, but you would rather have things in the press in a positive way like that , with regards to clubs looking at you.
“The way Tom is playing and what he has done for the club for the last two years, it is understandable that he’s had clubs looking – of course he is going to have clubs looking at him, the best players do.
“But he knew about it before the game on Saturday and he got his head down and worked hard and he’s got another two goals, so all credit to him again.
“If you want to let it affect you, you can. You can get caught up with it, you can read the press , you can do whatever you want, but you have got to forget all of that.
“He has dealt with that really well, he’s put all of that to one side and he’s got on with playing football. He’s playing with a smile on his face and he’s enjoying playing football and that’s showing with his goal tally again.”