Walker eyes goal target for Town

Richard Walker has set himself a minimum 20-goal target for his first season in blue-and-amber - to help deliver the promotion he denied Shrewsbury Town last year.Walker is expected to make his first Shrewsbury appearance in Saturday’s opening pre-season friendly at Stafford Rangers.

But Town fans will need no introduction to the 30-year-old who broke their hearts with a brace in the 3-1 Wembley defeat to Bristol Rovers in the League Two play-off final 14 months ago.

Walker, however, is now firmly in the Shrewsbury camp and is desperate to hit the goal trail at Oteley Road after joining on a season-long loan from Rovers.

“As a striker I always look towards the 20-mark and then once I get past that we will see what happens,” he said

“You never know where you will end up in football and after the high of that day at Wembley as a Bristol Rovers player, I hope I can get enough goals to get Shrewsbury promoted this season.

“There is no point in going into a season unless you are actually looking to win the League.

“Obviously that is going to be the first aim but if we don’t manage to make it, the play-offs are the next best thing.

“We are aiming that high. We hope we will get to it but if we fall a little bit short we will be very disappointed.”

After dropping down the pecking order at Rovers, Walker insists it was a straight-forward decision to head for Shrewsbury.

And he is hoping his stay in Shropshire proves longer than the initial 12 months which has been agreed.

“After last season, where I didn’t get much of a look in at Rovers, I pretty much knew it was time to move on,” he added

“There were a couple of clubs interested but I felt this was the best squad and the team with the best chance of having a good season.

“It’s only a season long loan at the moment and it is down to me to prove to the gaffer that I deserve something more permanent here.

“The only way I can do this is by scoring goals and helping the team achieve what it is capable of.”

By Sam Morris in Almeria