Shropshire Star

Paul Hurst thinks Bryn Morris can progress with Shrewsbury

Paul Hurst is hoping to agree a deal with Bryn Morris and believes the midfielder can progress with Shrewsbury.

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The 21-year-old spent a successful second half of the campaign at Greenhous Meadow where he caught the eye with some battling displays in the heart of Town's midfield.

After agreeing a six-month deal with Town following his move from boyhood club Middlesbrough in January, Morris, a former England youth skipper, was one of four players offered fresh terms.

Given his move from the Premier League Teesside outfit and previous experience with England at age groups between under-16s and under-20s, it is expected that Morris will attract interest from elsewhere.

But the midfielder has made no secret of how much he enjoyed his stint in Shropshire and gratitude towards boss Hurst for handing him an opportunity.

"I think he enjoyed his time here," said Town's boss Hurst. "Without speaking for him I don't think he regrets leaving what was a comfortable situation for him.

"He came to test himself. Deep down how many games would he have expected? Would he expect to play them all? I'm not sure.

"But for me he's certainly contributed. He's had a couple of really good games, a couple not as good and a few in between.

"But with the age he's at I feel he's one we can progress further and will get better."

After completing his first 90 minutes for Town at Chesterfield on March 11, Morris admitted to finding the high-tempo training regime under Hurst and assistant Chris Doig a challenge.

The former Burton, Coventry, York and Walsall loanee had only made three first-team appearances for Boro prior to his move, all as part of a mostly-under-23 side in the maligned Checkatrade Trophy.

But Hurst lauded Morris' attitude after leaving his former side with six months of his deal remaining.

The boss added: "He's spoke openly and said he found it hard initially with the training load and so on, he knows what that's all about now.

"I've made it clear what I think of his attitude, never mind anything else, he can obviously play – his pedigree says that.

"If you've got that pedigree initially, while you might not reach those heights moving forward, but if your attitude's good you can go on to have a career.

"And I believe that's what Bryn will do, whether that's here or elsewhere then we'll find out."