Port Vale: Old boy McCombe aiming to terrorise Terriers

Friday, November 27, 2009, 09:03

FORMER Terriers defender John McCombe believes Vale's early-season Carling Cup heroics will stand them in good stead against free-scoring Huddersfield.

Lee Clark's side lie fifth in League One having netted 38 goals in 18 games, but far from quivering in his boots 24-year-old McCombe takes heart from Vale's Carling Cup victories over Championship sides Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday.

They eventually crashed out of the competition at Scunthorpe, the Championship side needing extra-time to progress to the fourth round with a 2-0 victory.

And McCombe is confident Vale will rise to the challenge again when the Terriers come calling, despite the loss of centre-half Gareth Owen, who is sidelined with a fractured cheekbone.

McCombe said: "We've played three Championship teams already this season and some good teams in our division, but defensively, we've coped quite well

"It's a blow losing Gareth for a few weeks, but I'm sure that whoever comes in will do a good job.

"Huddersfield have a lot of good players, but I don't think you can really pick out one main player, because they score from so many different positions.

"We've got to be on our guard, but we feel that if we play well we've got a great chance of winning the game."

While McCombe now lives in Huddersfield, he was raised in the West Yorkshire town of Pontefract.

He joined the Terriers as a 10-year-old and during an 11-year stint went on to make 20 appearances for the club, before moving to Hereford in the summer of 2007.

"Going to Hereford helped my career, but I've got great memories of my time at Huddersfield," added McCombe.

"I had 11 great years there, but I'm playing for Port Vale now and I'd love to beat them tomorrow."

Jordan Rhodes is Huddersfield's top scorer this season with 13 goals.

The 19-year-old arrived from Ipswich Town in the summer and will have his sights set on an FA Cup hat-trick tomorrow.

His two previous cup outings saw him score the winner for Oxford United in their 2-1 fourth qualifying round win at Merthyr Tydfil in 2007-08, while he also got on the scoresheet for Huddersfield in their 6-1 first round victory over Dagenham.

He said: "I haven't been involved in the FA Cup that much so far, but I've thoroughly enjoyed both my appearances and I want plenty more of them.

"That means getting past Port Vale, and while we'll give them proper respect there's no reason why we shouldn't go there and get the right result."

Port Vale: Old boy McCombe aiming to terrorise Terriers

 

   




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