Ryan McGivern out to answer clean sheet question
Ryan McGivern may be riding high after a return to the Northern Irish international fold – but frustration with the lack of Salop clean sheets remain a fierce concern.
The Ulsterman was recently handed his first call-up to Michael O'Neill's squad since qualification for the European Championships.
It was his return to first-team club football that boosted McGivern's ratings but the 26-year-old is not about to rest on his laurels as he goes in search of tightening up Shrewsbury Town's defence.
Micky Mellon's side have kept just one clean sheet in 10 games across all competitions this term.
And the former Port Vale man knows that statistic must be improved on as League One high-fliers Scunthorpe United visit tomorrow.
"It's tough not keeping clean sheets as defenders, that's our job," said the summer acquisition.
"Like a striker, if they're on a bad run and not scoring goals then they're going to get asked questions.
"For a centre-half especially or anyone along the back four or goalkeeper, if you're not keeping clean sheets as you would like to then we're going to get asked questions.
"As a whole team, not just the back four, we need to get back to being hard to beat and hard to break down."
Aside from the Checkatrade Trophy reversal at home to Cambridge United and the league success on the road at Oldham – of which he was away with Northern Ireland – McGivern had been a constant fixture in Mellon's plans.
He is certain that a move across the Staffordshire-Shropshire boarder was essential in recovering international recognition.
McGivern added: "At the end of the day I'm only back involved with Northern Ireland because I've been doing something well here and the manager's seen that.
"I knew as soon as the manager was interested here that this would be the club I'd play for so I've always known it was the right move, from when I spoke to the manager and saw the facilities. So far it's looking like the right decision.
"People in the Northern Ireland squad are still talking about the Euros, but it's a new campaign, now time to knuckle down, roll up our sleeves and do as well as we can in this World Cup qualifying campaign."
McGivern has mostly featured alongside skipper Adam El-Abd at the heart of Mellon's defence.
But with the Egyptian serving his one-game suspension for dismissal at Bury, McGivern will be joined by a new partner.
El-Abd's second yellow card at Gigg Lane last week forced Mellon to shuffle his pack and the Northern Irishman found himself at centre-half alongside Jack Grimmer.
The Fulham loanee is generally considered a right full-back but McGivern was keen to dish out praise on the versatile young Scot.
Salop have not tasted success over the Iron in 15 attempts, dating back to August 1998.
That season, United finished fourth in the old Division Three, and they will be aiming high again.
"I was really impressed with Jack against Bury. I've only seen him play at right-back previously, it was good to play alongside him.
"Jack was just natural, I didn't have to talk him through it, he's come from a good background at Fulham and he knows the game well. It was pretty seamless. I felt like I'd played with him in that position a lot more than I have."
