Top half is target for Shrewsbury Town new-boy

The 31-year-old central defender has signed a two-year contract to become Micky Mellon's ninth capture of the summer after reaching a settlement with Bristol City on the final 12 months of his deal.

Experienced El-Abd featured in 340 games in 11 years for home-town club Brighton and was player of the year when the Seagulls won League One in 2010-11. He also helped them to the Championship play-offs in 2012-13.

And after three loans in the last two seasons, he hopes to lead Town to success after landing a permanent deal.

"I want to try to make this my home," he told www.shrewsburytown.com. "Hopefully we can have a good relationship and I can put in some good performances to help the team push up to the top half."

The player admits he was persuaded to buy into the infrastructure at the Greenhous Meadow. "When you look around and see the project it's very promising," added El-Abd, who has been capped seven times by Egypt. "The stadium looks lovely, the pitch is great and the training ground is on its way."

El-Abd has the presence to replace Nathaniel Knight-Percival, who moved to Bradford. "I hope to bring experience," he said.

"I may have a bit of catching up to do but I've been in the gym and have been trying to replicate a proper pre-season."

Mellon's interest in the player goes back a long way. "We tried to get him in at Barnsley," he told www.shrewsburytown.com. "He's also a great character."

The signingsignals an end to Mellon's defensive strengthening. "We're just about done with the defence," he added. "We have four strikers and it might be the case to wait for someone to leave – it's a case of one out, one in."

Hitchin right-back Kane Smith will be one of several trialists set to feature for Town against Cardiff today.

Southend boss Phil Brown was speaking to Town yesterday with regard to the release of Tyrone Barnett.