Micky Mellon delighted by terrific Ivan Toney at Shrewsbury

The on-loan Newcastle United striker was handed a first start for Salop with AJ Leitch-Smith absent through injury and Toney took his chance with a commanding performance in attack.

The 20-year-old almost grabbed a match-winner late on when his crisp finish thundered against the Coventry City's crossbar as Mellon's side took an encouraging point from the Ricoh Arena.

But Mellon, who revealed last week he had no qualms about including the loanee from the outset, praised the striker's application.

"The thing is that you have to remember is that he's a Newcastle United player and they paid a lot of money for him, he's a top, top player," said Greenhous Meadow chief Mellon.

"He's got that pedigree and I'm delighted that we got him here. We worked so hard to get him here for all of the reasons you've seen.

"He's definitely added to the group and when AJ (Leitch-Smith) comes back and the other additions we'll have more different threats at that end of the pitch so it's looking well.

"I think we got a wee bit more support to him in the second half. He got a wee bit isolated because we were a bit pinned back."

Mellon also reserved praise for his squad's adaptability as they changed personnel and system during half-time for a much-improved second-half showing and added: "It's the ability to be able to change the shape of the team seamlessly like the boys did it, that takes a lot of hard work on the players' part and the coaching staff.

"Because sometimes the skill of what you have to do as a manager is see that it's not working and have the courage to change it. You've practised it before and spoke about it before and go ahead and do that and we were able to do it because we believe we have good players to come and do it."

The Town boss hoped to have forward Leitch-Smith back in training today ahead of tomorrow's trip to Charlton Athletic.