Season has been my best – Shrewsbury Town's Mat Sadler
Mat Sadler believes that reinventing himself as a centre-half was crucial in the most successful season of his career.
The 32-year-old is currently mulling over a new contract offered by boss Paul Hurst, with Sadler's Greenhous Meadow terms running out this summer.
And the new deal offered was just rewards for the ex-Birmingham and Walsall man, who swept the board at the club's end of season presentation last week – winning three awards.
For the first time in his Shrewsbury career, Sadler was deployed at centre-half rather than his more recognised position of left-back and he became an essential part of Hurst's plans.
"I reinvented myself in the way of playing a different position, yes," said Sadler.
"I was required to play a position which I say I'm familiar with but I hadn't been recently. I got in the team as a left-back and stuck with it.
"Reinventing myself in the eyes of Shrewsbury Town fans, yes, because they hadn't seen me play there before.
"But I'd back myself to play anywhere because I'd done it lots as a kid and I was very comfortable there."
The Brummie admitted he had struggled in the previous season under former boss Micky Mellon and it wasn't until October 16 – under interim chief Danny Coyne – that Sadler played his first 90 minutes of the season.
And he claimed that his recovery, alongside the team recovering from a six-point deficit to League One safety, makes the 2016/17 season stand out.
The defender missed just one game under Hurst – the 2-1 defeat at Sheffield United on November 19 – and was subsequently selected for the remaining 30 fixtures of the campaign.
"For sure this has been my best season personally," he added.
"I've won awards at dos similar in the past but it's the situation I found myself at times last season and this season.
"I didn't play great last season, I have to look at myself at that, mistakes happen – luck wasn't with me at that point and mistakes were getting punished.
"But to come out of all of that, all of the doubt and win the three awards is a big thing for me and my family, I can't hide from that. It means a lot."
