Shrewsbury Town goalkeeper Chris Neal has been urged to stay patient in his quest to become a regular Football League No 1.

Neal was signed from Championship outfit Preston in the summer with manager Paul Simpson ready to make the 24-year-old his first choice.

But he had never started for Preston and Neal’s Town hopes have been hit badly by injury since his arrival, with a groin problem and a broken finger meaning he has made just seven Town appearances to date.

With on-loan goalkeeper David Button currently occupying the jersey and having his loan from Tottenham extended until February at least, Neal faces a further spell kicking his heels.

But manager Paul Simpson insists the St Albans-born shot-stopper still has a big future at the club.

“I have faith in Chris Neal,” said the Town boss.

“I’ve been a bit disappointed I’ve had to keep changing the goalkeeper.

“If you have a settled goalkeeper they can get an understanding, but we are now on our fourth goalkeeper of the season (including Andreas Arestidou and Steve Phillips), which isn’t ideal.

“Hopefully, it will give Chris a bit of time. If anything goes wrong with David Button – whether it’s a loss of form or an injury – we have got Chris. But he has got to be patient now.

“Football can be a cruel game and, through no fault of his own, he got injured.

“Somebody else has come in and taken the shirt and it’s up to Chris to push David all the way – and David to keep Chris out of it.”

Town’s players were today back in training to begin preparations for Saturday’s League Two trip to Burton after sitting out the weekend following the postponement of their home clash with Barnet.