Shrewsbury Town get ready for a tough test at Solihull Moors
Micky Mellon is anticipating a different test for Shrewsbury Town as they head to Solihull Moors tomorrow.
Following two pre-season clashes against Championship outfits Cardiff City and Birmingham City, Salop face last season's National League North winners in what should prove rather different circumstances.
After eight of his nine fresh faces were involved in Tuesday night's starting XI against the Blues, Mellon is keen to see how his new-look squad handles the rough-and-ready challenge that non-league opposition poses.
Mellon said: "Solihull Moors will provide a different test and that's why we've designed it that way.
"We knew that we'd get two games of football like we did against Cardiff and Birmingham in the three of four days – but we'll go to Solihull and it'll probably be a little bit more aggressive than that. But that suits us and that's what we want."
Moors, a club formed after the merger between Moor Green and Solihull Borough in 2007, are managed by former Telford United and Queens Park Rangers man Marcus Bignot and are currently at the highest point of their short history as they prepare for their debut National League campaign.
But Mellon insisted that, no matter the opposition, any pre-season clash is an opportunity to learn about a new group of players. All nine new signings are in contention to feature after former fitness doubt Adam El-Abd made his bow against Birmingham. He added: "We want to see how the team reacts in different situations, away from home at Solihull – a club with their tails flying high after promotion.
"So it'll be another very good, tough test for us and one that we welcome because it'll allow me to learn about the group again."
The hosts will probably play three names familiar to the Town faithful in Gavin Cowan (as player-coach), Steven Leslie and Akwasi Asante.
Cowan, born in Germany, featured 29 times for Town between March 2005 and January 2007 and now runs Crossbar Coaching, a football coaching business. Scottish midfielder Leslie chipped up more than 100 appearances after graduating as a trainee a decade ago.
Current Town midfielder Ian Black missed Tuesday's win with a knee problem and will be assessed before tomorrow's trip.
