Paul Hurst keen to add one more Shrewsbury Town friendly

Town aim to travel to a National League outfit early in July, following their week summer camp in Portugal, which would make a total of six warm-up games.

Their friendlies are set to begin with the visit of Aston Villa on July 15.

“I think we are looking at only one more game to organise and that will be early on,” said Hurst.

“Ideally I’d like to play a Conference team but it might end up being a training ground game or something.

“It’s not imperative that it has to be on a stadium pitch but, ideally we’d like to travel somewhere and have a competitive game.”

Hurst, meanwhile, has heaped praise on departed Gary Deegan. The Irish midfielder was allowed to leave Shrewsbury a year ahead of his contract expiring and has since joined League Two Cambridge United.

“I’ve got nothing bad to say about Deegs,” said Hurst on Deegan, who played 48 times last season. “He had the right character, I just couldn’t promise him the game time that I think he needs.

“I tried to be up front. He was as good as gold, he said he wanted to play and he’s dropped down a league to do that.

“You want more people like Gary Deegan in the game, because he wants to play football.”