Port Vale set to sign Lee Hughes after clinching Liam Chilvers loan deal

LEE Hughes’s deadline-day loan switch to Port Vale is expected to be confirmed today.

The 36-year-old Notts County striker is due to stay with the Valiants until January, with a view to a permanent move.

The club was last night waiting for the deal to be ratified by the Football League.

But Hughes, whose career has featured a £5m move to Coventry in 2001, will miss the first three games of his loan spell.

He picked up a retrospective ban for elbowing Tom Newey in County’s clash at Scunthorpe on Saturday.

Hughes has scored 65 goals in 144 games for the club since arriving at Meadow Lane from Oldham in 2009.

He netted 33 times in his first season with the club, firing County to the League Two title in 2010 and has bagged five this season to become the club’s joint leading scorer, despite being relegated to the bench.

Hughes started his career at Kidderminster and moved to West Brom before his big-money move to Coventry.

But he returned to the Hawthorns only a year later.

He spent three years in prison for causing death by dangerous driving in August 2004 and signed for Oldham on his release.

One player whose temporary switch was confirmed ahead of the 5pm closure of the loan window was Liam Chilvers.

The 31-year-old central defender, no stranger to Vale fans after spending a spell at the club in 2011, joins from AFC Telford United until January 5, also with a view to a permanent move.

He goes into the squad for tomorrow’s clash at Aldershot.

Boss Micky Adams: “We know from working with Liam that he will add a calm and experienced head to the defence, having played for the majority of his career in a higher division.

“He also knows the club and our aspirations and we’re looking forward to working with him until the new year.

“After a frustrating spell, we are now in the position where we can bring in new players and I thank the new owners for allowing us to act swiftly.”

Former Colchester and Preston man Chilvers, who has been playing in the Blue Square Premier after his release by Notts County last year, is delighted to be back at Vale Park.

“It wasn’t a difficult decision,” he said.

“The fact I had been here before was one of the things that made it so easy to come back. I came here and enjoyed it and still know some of the lads from last time.

“I know what the gaffer wants from me and I know he is going to be a positive influence on me.”

Vale head to Aldershot also boosted by the return of Sam Morsy.

The midfielder is back from suspension, after being sent off against Rochdale on November 6, and could go straight back into the team.

Skipper Doug Loft, who has been out with a calf injury, returned to training yesterday, but is unlikely to figure.

• NEW Port Vale owners Paul Wildes and Norman Smurthwaite will attend a fans’ forum on Wednesday.

The ticket-only event will take place in the Valiant Suite at Vale Park (7pm).

A maximum of 400 tickets will be available from the ticket office from 9.30am today.