Dominic Smith: Youth will get their chance
Young Player of the Year Dominic Smith believes Micky Mellon will continue to give youth a fling at Shrewsbury Town.
The 20-year-old homegrown defender ended the season as one of three Town academy graduates on the pitch.
It came in the 3-0 defeat at Swindon with keeper Callum Burton and striker Ethan Jones.
Since then Mellon has added eight summer signings, with most having extensive experience of League One.
Smith signed a two-year deal in March while Burton and Jones committed their futures earlier this summer by signing two and one-year deals respectively.
In addition, highly-rated centre-back Callum Grogan has been promoted from the academy to the first-team squad on a 12-month contract.
And Smith, who played 24 games in 2015-16, is convinced Mellon will still look within and not hold youngsters back if they deserve an opportunity.
He said: "When Micky gave me my chance I knew he was going to bring through as many players from the academy as possible.
"It just shows how good our academy system is that we can bring through the likes of Callum and Ethan – a second-year scholar.
"Plus there's Shaun (Rowley) and Kaiman (Anderson) in the background as well. It also shows the gaffer is prepared to give youth a go and that it can work."
