YOUR on-the-ball Citizen told you last week that Lee Hughes is the man Preston should fear when they travelled to take on high-riding West Brom on Saturday (November 25).

Unfortunately for PNE, he proved us right!

For although there may not be a lot of him -- 5ft 10ins and 11st 7lbs -- there was plenty of him to worry the North End defence as he ran the show, bagging his second consequitive hat-trick.

Hughes' job is scoring goals. And it's a job he relishes.

Saturday's display took his tally to 14 goals in just 17 games, so it's little wonder that Hughes is now rated in the £5 million class and attracting the attention of several Premiership clubs.

The 24-year-old cost just £200,000 when he was signed from Kidderminster Harriers in May 1997 and he has been smacking in the goals regularly. He hit 32 in the 98-99 season and was West Brom's leading scorer last season.

The Birmingham-born ginger-haired striker -- his accent is thicker than Jasper Carrott's -- has formed a prolific partnership with Jason Roberts who returned from suspension in time to face Preston.

Hughes said: "We're in good form and working well together."

It's a formidable partnership which has taken West Brom alongside North End on the heels of the Premiership-chasers.