Riza relishes Shrewsbury chance

The 29-year-old is currently serving a four-month suspension after a contract dispute with his former club Trabzonspor in Turkey.

In total Riza has now spent more than a year out of football after his case wasn't dealt with, but he has been at the Prostar Stadium on trial for the last two months, impressing manager Paul Simpson.

Both the player's representatives and Town officials are still seeking clarification over when the ban – which precludes Riza from playing in first team or reserve team games – began and expires, although it appears unlikely to end this season.

But Riza, who spent a decade as a youngster at Arsenal and was in the same West Ham squad as Joe Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and Frank Lampard, insists he would love Shrewsbury to become his next club.

"Shrewsbury are in a good position, they have got a good set of lads, a good management, a good set-up and I honestly believe they shouldn't be playing in this League," said Riza, who has based himself in Much Wenlock.

"I've been here for two months and I'm not looking at anywhere else.

"Shrewsbury have been good to me and we have got certain things we have spoken about.

"As it stands, it looks like I won't play until the new season but fingers crossed we can get things sorted out earlier and try and get out on the pitch and push the club towards promotion."

Riza also lifted the lid on his problems with Trabzonspor and the frustrations at being sidelined by the long-term suspension.

"From the moment I signed the contract (at Trabzonspor) there were late payments – two or three months," he added.

"I kept my mouth shut until the manager was mis-treating me. I left the club on just cause. It has been very frustrating."

By JAMES GARRISON