Turner challenges Shrewsbury Town recruits to impress

Boss Graham Turner has challenged Shrewsbury Town's new recruits to prove they are worth a first team shirt by impressing in tonight's final pre-season friendly.

Town face Tranmere Rovers at the Greenhous Meadow (7.45pm) in a game that will also see them sporting their new blue and amber striped shirts for the first time.

And Turner, while impressed by what he has seen from his new-look squad up to now, insists there are still places up for grabs.

"One or two players have got a chance to impress and one or two have already almost secured themselves a position with the way they've trained and the way they've played in games," said the Shrewsbury chief.

"I have counted that 10 players left at the end of last season and we've brought six in. When you have that sort of change it takes time to gel and have match understanding.

"It's part of what pre-season games are for, but it will take several games into the League programme to really get that understanding, but I think the new players have adapted well to what we're looking for."

Meanwhile, striker Tom Bradshaw has spoken of his disappointment at being ruled out for the start of the season after picking up a knee injury in the 2-0 win over a Wolves Development XI.

The teenager has been ruled out for four to six weeks but admits he is relieved the news is not more serious.

"I was looking forward to the start of the season, firstly trying to get my place in the team and then scoring the goals to help Shrewsbury into League One," he said.

"It's going to be a long four weeks but I'm just focussed on getting back fit as soon as possible.

"There is a small muscle at the back of my knee and ever since I've been with the youth team, Chris Skitt (physio) has been working on stregthening it up," he added.

It's that work that has saved me really because, although that muscle has torn, it has protected the cruciate ligament from going.

If that had gone, I would probably have been looking at six months out injured and then another two or three getting match fit."

By CHRIS HUDSON