Yado Mambo to fight for a Shrewsbury place

The duo have been the foundation to Town's back-four improvement – but the Charlton Athletic youngster has thrown down the gauntlet, having signed on loan until the end of the season.

Mambo wants to add to his growing CV with regular first-team football after starting 16 games for AFC Wimbledon, including the Dons' tasty FA Cup second round clash with Milton Keynes Dons before Christmas.

A New Year sickness bug hampered the 21-year-old's start to his Town loan, but he came through 90 minutes of Tuesday's reserve outing with Morecambe and now believes he is ready to fight for a place in the starting line-up.

He said: "I was playing week in and week out at AFC Wimbledon, but this is a level up and the team are doing really well so I'm not going to get in straight away.

"But it was nice to get 90 minutes under my belt and show the gaffer what I can do. I just want to play as many games as I can to gain some experience.

"Hopefully, I can get a few games under my belt and push for a place or come off the bench on Saturday at Swindon."

Mambo came through the the Addicks' academy but his opportunities have been limited and he was sent out on loan to six non-league clubs before he sampled League Two football with Wimbledon.

"I was at Ebbsfleet for half a season in the Conference last year and lower leagues before that. I'm working my way up which is good.

"I was playing under-21s football at Charlton up to October before going to Wimbledon. It was different and it was a good standard.

"Playing League Two helped me gain some experience and, while I was there, Shrewsbury saw me so I must have been doing something right. But this is a step up again.

"I just want to gain some experience as this is my first time away from home. It's a culture shock to me, in terms of being in a new place."