Manager Paul Simpson insists out-of-favour Shrewsbury strikers Jake Robinson and Nathan Elder do have a future at Shrewsbury Town – if their performances improve.

The two summer signings were both left out of the 18-man squad for yesterday’s impressive 3-1 victory at Bradford, with Simpson preferring to name youth team players Jon Taylor and Will Richards amongst his substitutes.

It was the second successive game Robinson and Elder have been left out of the squad, but Simpson insists the door is not shut.

“They are part of the plans if they perform to the levels I believe they are capable of,” said the Town boss.

“The challenge has been put to them – perform to the levels I think you are capable of and you will be involved.

“If you don’t, then I’m afraid you won’t be involved.

“If we can’t get them to raise their levels then we will have to look to change it if I’m allowed to.”

On-loan midfielder Jamie Devitt, who is due to return to Hull after Saturday’s clash with Chesterfield, was also not involved yesterday.

On his team selection, Simpson added: “I had a group of players I selected because I felt they were all with me.

“I had faith in them and I felt they wanted to be with us.

“That’s why this 18 was selected and hopefully we can stay together, get stronger and move on.”

Meanwhile, Simpson was full of praise for his side’s display which earned a priceless victory thanks to a wonder strike from Terry Dunfield, a Kevin McIntyre penalty and a late goal from Dave Hibbert.

“We knew we needed to improve and I thought the players were magnificent,” said the Town boss.

“I’ve said all along I believe these players have got ability. I think we have let ourselves down recently with our work ethic and our mental attitude going into games.

“We have to make sure that we go to the next one, be strong and get a good performance and start to build because it’s not a very happy place to be at the moment, our club, with the amount of abuse going around – everybody questioning me, everybody questioning the players.

“We just have to have thick skins, blank everything out which is going on around us and keep doing the things we have done over the 90 minutes at Bradford.”

By JAMES GARRISON