Boss Graham Turner believes Shrewsbury Town’s new approach to reserve team football could lead to promising young players joining the club on loan.

Turner withdrew Town’s second string from a competitive reserve league this season, preferring instead to line up friendlies against higher-ranked opponents.

The first game took place on Wednesday, when Shrewsbury travelled to Wolves’ Compton training base – and he was delighted by the experience.

“We started last season against Bury at Radcliffe Borough’s ground, where the surface was quite poor,” Turner recalled.

“At the training ground at Wolves the pitch was absolutely immaculate and we got to play against Premier League players.

“Our young lads got a buzz out of it and to go to a Premier League training ground, if only to look at the Bentleys in the car park, is a good experience for them.

“It’s what they should all be aspiring to – they should all want to play as high as they can.

“It also gives us an opportunity to make those contacts, look at the opposing players and see if there is anyone we might be interested in,” he added.

“Hopefully managers like Mick McCarthy will see us and think that he would be prepared to loan us players because he can see our set-up is good.”

Town’s side at Wolves included Welsh under-21s striker Tom Bradshaw, who played for 40 minutes as he stepped up his rehabilitation from a knee injury.

“He’s not far off now,” added Turner.

By Chris Hudson