Hume happy at Prenton Park homecoming

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By Nick Hughes

Iain Hume feels like he has ‘come home’ to Prenton Park following his return in theJanuary transfer window despite a near 10 year absence in a Tranmere Rovers shirt.

Hume first ran out for the Super Whites at the tender age of 16 years 167 days againstSwindon before going on to score 37 goals in 177 appearances.

In the years since he has turned out for title challenging sides in the Championship andLeague One before his greatest adventure to the Indian Super League with the KeralaBlasters last year and was voted the best player in the league amongst legends of thegame.

Hume has returned to Wirral and found his former side in a position they did notexperience during his time at the club but despite this, his love for the team has notwavered.

“It’s always been a a club that I’ve stated I’d love to come back to before my career’sfinished. They gave me the opportunity after meeting with the chairman and the managerand it was an easy decision to make.”

Hume’s success in India came to an end before the Christmas break leaving the 31-year-old Canadian without a team so his objective was to find a club until the end of theseason at least to keep playing and remain fit.

Most importantly, Hume wanted to be somewhere he would feel happy and that place isTranmere despite offers from League 1 which would have required extensive travel andmoving away from family which was ‘the last thing I wanted to do.’

“The way things have been going recently, they’ve changed since the manager’s come in[so] it’s definitely a place I want to be a part of right now and, fingers crossed, I can add a

Iain Hume thrilled to go back for the future at Tranmere Rovers

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Iain Hume fires in his second goal and a winner for Tranmere against Torquay

bit of experience and quality and hopefully I can help out with the run they’re on at themoment.”

Hume departed the Wirral side in 2005 for Leicester to challenge for honours in theChampionship before stints with Barnsley, Preston, Doncaster and Fleetwood.

Now he has come back and will even don the number 34 shirt – the number in which hebegan his career with Rovers.

“I’m going back to where I started, and when I looked down the list with Mick Horton,number 34 was available so why not have a second début with number 34? I’m over themoon regardless of what number I am. 34 – I’m back to where I started, literally right backto where I started.”

Like Jason Koumas and Steve Jennnings before him, Hume has returned to Prenton Park toadd to his illustrious history with the club – a club he describes as family.

“It’s home isn’t it? The club gave me my chance in football. I live two minutes away. It’s

Iain Hume in action for Leicester City against Stoke

the first club since I left Tranmere that I’ve not had to drive an hour, hour and half to getto training every day.

“Even in the back-room staff you’ve still got Shaun Garnett here, you’ve got WarwickRimmer here. I know they changed a lot of it but regardless of who’s in and who’s out thefeeling is always the same, it’s always a family club – it’s always a very close knit club –and they work together and everybody knows everybody and I think that’s the best way, inmy eyes.

“It’s a club that’s very close together and they all work together and everybody knowseach other and I think that makes it easier for people to come in.

“New signings, obviously within a couple you’ll know the lads that you’re working with butbehind the scenes it’s nice to know the people that are doing favours for you, doing thingsfor you and helping you out.

“I think that’s one of the main things that makes people come back and that’s one of thereasons I’m back because I know it’s a place that I will feel at home.”

After coming so close to promotion and a strong cup run with Rovers, Hume feels he hasplenty of time yet to give the Super Whites and is ‘no where near hanging them up.’

“Out in India I’ve had good four months, I’ve played really well out there and I’ve keptmyself fit and I’ve played, essentially, every game out there.

“I’m coming back OK, I’ve got to catch up to the pace of the game that the lads have beensetting and the way the manager wants to play but I don’t think I’m too far away frompushing for a spot.”

Looking ahead to his second début and today’s game against Carlisle, Hume is itching togo and promises to do his best to push the team up the table and away from relegation.

“I’m looking forward to it, that’s the reason I’m back – I’m here to play games, I’m here toenjoy myself, I’m here to play in front of people I know and family and to do the best Ican. I’m going to do everything I can to bring success for myself and for the club.

“Bring on Carlisle; hopefully we can bring the fans back out because I remember when Ileft we were getting nine and ten thousands every home game.

“It’s changed a lot and I understand that and obviously success brings in the crowds, so wejust need to be successful and win games at home and get ourselves up the table and thecrowds will follow.”

View from the Opposition

Carlisle manager Keith Curle has praised the appointment of Micky Adams at Tranmereand expects a hard-working opponent in a ‘toe-to-toe encounter.’

A goal by former Rovers loanee, David Amoo, sealed a 1-0 victory in Curle’s first game incharge at Brunton Park in a tight meeting to earn the first league win in 15 attempts.

Curle knows what to expect from a Micky Adams side and feels his Carlisle team will be amatch for Rovers with their hard-working and fighting spirit in today’s bottom of the tablescrap.

“Micky’s got a reputation of being hard-working, physical, not giving an inch and in today’sgame they will come up against a team that will mirror that in ourselves.

The Carlisle manager fully expects a battle from the Super Whites but insists theCumbrian side are fully prepared for a fight and the unpredictable nature of the league.

“We won’t ask for any inches or quarters, we’re prepared to go toe-to-toe with anybody inthis division.

“It’s not a six-pointer. You only get three points, and there will still be 17 games to go,lots of points to play for, lots of twists and turns.”

Curle took charge in September found a side in a similar position to Tranmere whenAdams took over and feels his opponent have done well with their appointment.

“Micky is similar to myself in that he’s taken over a club that was on the slide, that’s gottradition and is used to playing at a higher level.

“Sometimes there needs to be a change of culture, a new direction and leadership. As anappointment I think they’ve done very well.”

There is great respect between both managers for their squads but come this afternoon,all will be forgotten as Curle will seek to take advantage of weaknesses in Rovers’ game.

“We’ve looked at Tranmere and will take them on their merits. They’ve got good strengths,a good directness in their play, good willingness, good energy levels, good footballers incertain key areas, but they’ve got weaknesses.”

Curle knows Tranmere are benefiting from Adams’ qualities with their recent unbeaten run

Carlisle manager Keith Curle

but demands his side must do their job for this crucial clash.

“Mobility, pace, speed, aggression. They’ve got areas we can exploit but we’ve got to doour job first of all. I think it will be a toe-to-toe encounter.”

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