Last updated 13:22, Friday, 10 October 2008

Grant Holt savoured his five-goal super show for Shrewsbury – and then admitted he would have jumped at the chance to join Carlisle United in the summer.

Shrewsbury splashed a club record £170,000 on the big targetman in the summer and he has rewarded their gamble with nine goals this season, including five in Tuesday night’s 7-0 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy victory over Wycombe.

Holt has never hidden his desire to play for his home-town team but it was Shrewsbury’s Carlisle-born boss Paul Simpson who captured him from Nottingham Forest in the summer.

Holt, who was linked with a string of clubs including Bristol Rovers during close season, said: “Everybody knows that at some point in the future I would love to play for Carlisle – it’s come close a couple of times but never happened.

“I’ve just got to keep on doing what I’m doing.

“Shrewsbury stumped the money up in the summer and it showed other clubs they should have got the cheque book out earlier.

“The pressure is on the club that spent the money on me and it’s up to me to fulfil what they believe I can do.

“I had a good chat with Paul before I went to Shrewsbury and he told me his main objective was to get me. I just want to work hard for Shrewsbury and prove he was right.

“I’m happy with how things have gone and I’m really enjoying my football and playing with a good set of lads. I was signed to help them get promotion and that’s what everybody wants.”

Tuesday night’s spectacular display was Holt’s first competitive hat-trick but he was brought quickly back down to earth as he has been moving house this week – back home to Carlisle with his wife and children.

Holt, who will commute to League Two high-fliers Shrewsbury, scored three goals in the final ten minutes, and reckons his fourth goal was the pick of the bunch – a 25-yard volley with his left foot.

The 27-year-old, from Harraby, said: “It was a nice relief to get my first hat-trick. I’ve got the matchball signed and I’ve brought it home.

“At half-time my aim was to go back out and get the hat-trick. When I got the third I felt more relaxed and things came to me a bit easier.

“Everything fell for me on the night. The fourth one was the best as I caught it on the volley and it was with my left foot as well.

“With the fifth goal I was trying to set it off to Richard Walker but it bounced back to me. I should have got a sixth goal – not that I’m complaining!”