AJ Leitch-Smith finally gets to Shrewsbury
New Shrewsbury Town hot-shot AJ Leitch-Smith is excited to finally link up with boss Micky Mellon after turning down one opportunity to play under him.
The former Crewe and Port Vale goal-getter teamed with Mellon earlier in the summer, after impressing at Vale Park last season.
Leitch-Smith netted 12 times in all competitions last term, but once the forward knew of Mellon's interest, was excited to sign on at the Greenhous Meadow.
The Crewe-born striker spent six seasons at his hometown club before a year at Yeovil was followed by a move to Vale Park.
He said: "I nearly signed for Micky a couple of seasons ago, so I knew what he was all about.
"I knew what type of character he was and when I heard of his interest towards the end of last season I was excited to come here.
"Yes (he's a vocal boss), he obviously wants the best for his team and the boys and getting the best out of the boys, and he gets that across.
"You can hear it from the sides and it sort of drives everyone on."
The 26-year-old frontman registered his first goal for Town with the opener in Saturday's 4-0 win at Solihull, lashing in a sweet volley from the right corner of the box.
But Leitch-Smith, who also spent a stint on loan in Iceland during 2009, is confident in his ability from long range.
He added: "As soon as I hit it I knew it was going straight in and luckily it did, so it was nice to get the lads off to a good start there.
"To be fair, I scored one similar towards the end of last season, Gillingham away, so it was nothing new."
Meadow chief Mellon admitted Monday night's defeat at non-league Stourbridge was a difficult baptism of fire for Town's two trialists.
One trialist began the night on right midfield, while the other came on at right-back in Salop's second reverse of pre-season.
The Town boss said: "It's tough for them as well because they're coming into a group and not a team – but you have to impress and this is the world that they're living in.
"They have to try and impress us and make us think. One of them is with us for another few days anyway.
"We'll probably speak to the agent of the other one in the next day or two and we'll sort that out."
Town are back in action when they take on Scottish Championship outfit Hibernian at the Greenhous Meadow on Sunday.
