New Shrewsbury Town defender Michael Jackson has welcomed the early opportunity to square up to his old team-mates in tomorrow’s pre-season friendly with Blackpool.

Town play the Championship side at the Prostar Stadium in a hastily-arranged game that was agreed after the Seasiders cancelled a tour of Northern Ireland.

And 34-year-old Jackson has welcomed the addition to the fixture list – insisting it will provide perfect preparation for the League Two campaign.

“I think it’s good because I thought, in the long run, that we might need another game,” said Jackson, who made his debut in Town’s 2-2 draw with Premier League new boys West Brom on Tuesday evening.

“It will help our sharpness, get a little bit more time on the clock and give us a good workout.

“I think it will be a good test for us and more the sort of game we’re going to be getting in our own League.

“They won’t play it around like West Brom did, they’ll be a lot more direct and the pace will be a different tempo so that’s better for us.”

Former Bury and Preston man Jackson skippered the Lancashire side to the League One title in 2006-07 and had the armband again last season as they confounded many critics by surviving in the second tier of English football.

“We had a great team spirit, and a great set of lads who carried on from the promotion of the year before,” he added.

“You need that spirit to be successful, and I can already see that here.”

Jackson played alongside fellow new recruit Shane Cansdell-Sherriff in the first half of the West Brom clash and was then partnered with Kelvin Langmead after the former Tranmere man went off with a cut above the eye.

Jackson may be the senior member of the trio, but he insists his place is far from secure and has welcomed the competition.

“I thought Shane did well before he went off and Kelvin came on and slotted right in,” said the the Liverpool-born ace.