RUFC - Lidds 'the magic man is back'

Rotherham United recalled Tom Pope from his loan spell at Port Vale this week and the striker hopes to play more for himself than he did before he went to Vale.

'The magic man is back,' caretaker boss, Andy Liddell told MillersPlayer. 'We've got a couple of injuries and he's a good player and we need him back. He's honest and tries his best and that's what we want.

'Going to Vale when he did was the right thing for Tom. He wasn't playing here and it was a brilliant move for him, living five minutes away from their ground. But he's a Rotherham player and we need him and I'm sure he'll do his duty for Rotherham because that's the type of player he is.'

Tom himself said, 'I've been playing at Port Vale and done alright and hopefully, now I'm back here I'll get some games under my belt.'

Asked how it all went for him with the Valiants, Pope said,'They've had a few chops and changes with managers all with different ideas but it all went well and it's kept me match fit.

'When I was here before I went to Port Vale I was probably doing too much for the team and not enough for myself and I didn't really score too many goals from doing that. At Vale I played on my own up front a lot and I feel I benefited from that. I feel it's a lot easier playing down the middle and playing to my strengths whereas beforehand I was probably running the channels too much.'

Now back with the Millers Tom said, 'I'm sure the lads will be glad to see me back but I'm not sure the fans will be. We all get on together and the banters decent and I get on with them all. I stayed in touch with most of the lads while I was at Vale and I've never had an argument or fall out with any of them, well, apart from Jaybo who does my head in!

'Before I went it was tough to get in the side but since I've been gone the results haven't quite been there but there's six games to go and hopefully I can be involved somewhere along the line and try and get some goals and try and help the club.

'Lidds and Warney have got so much experience from the playing side and they know what the lads want and know what we want from training to keep us on our toes. They're a great pair to play with and probably play for.'






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